Key Questions
- Who are recognized as Special Populations of Gifted?
- What makes these populations "Special?"
A definition of giftedness is the foundation upon which an educational program for gifted children is built. The specific abilities included in a definition determine the kinds of identification criteria that are used to select children for a program and the kinds of educational services that are provided to those children. The selection of abilities to be included in a definition is, therefore, very important to educators who must determine which children are designated as gifted and what kinds of educational services are provided to them. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children has provided a great summary of how the definition of giftedness has evolved over the years.
Historically, giftedness has been closely linked with the concept of genius. This association began around the turn of the 20th century.
Dissatisfaction with a limited perspective led researchers and educators to develop "broadened" definitions. One of the first educators to write about such an expansion was Dr. Leta Hollingsworth. Although her research focused on children with IQs above 170, she believed that children could have other types of gifts, such as mechanical aptitude or artistic ability.
Results of numerous studies of the relationship between intelligence and creativity have led many educators to include creativity in their definitions. Dr. Joseph Renzulli, for example, considers giftedness to be a combination of above average ability, creativity, and task commitment.