From Giftedness to Gifted Education

Gifted education and talent development have numerous theories and conceptions for how to identify and serve students. This book helps introduce and apply these ideas to help reflect theory in practice. Each chapter introduces readers to a different theory by providing definitions of key concepts, explaining the fundamental conceptual/theoretical approach, and concluding with advice on how the conception can be put into practice. Suggestions for further reading are also provided. Some chapters are based on theories that have been around for decades, and some have been developed more recently. But all chapters focus on helping empower readers to understand and take action without having to reinvent the wheel.

Jonathan Plucker, Ph.D., is the Julian C. Stanley Professor of Talent Development at Johns Hopkins University, where he is affiliated with the Center for Talented Youth and School of Education. Prior to that, he was Raymond Neag Endowed Professor of Education at the University of Connecticut and Professor of Educational Psychology and Cognitive Science at Indiana University, where he was the founding director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy. He graduated with a B.S. in chemistry education and M.A. in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut, and his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Virginia.