Characteristics of Creatively Gifted

Students

ELEMECML 6254210:254

The Gifted and TalentedDr. Audrey RulePowerPoint #9

Based on Text: Davis, G. A., & Rimm, S. B. (2004). Education of the Gifted and Talented (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Creativity and Intelligence:The Threshold Concept

• High intelligence is not

the same as high

creativity.

• Highly intelligent students

may or may not be highly

creative.

http://thepotvinreport.files.wordpres

s.com/2008/01/bobby-fischer-3.jpg

Creativity and Intelligence:The Threshold Concept

• However, creativity and

intelligence are related in

the sense that there is a

base level of intelligence

required for someone to

show a lot of creative

productivity.

• The threshold is about IQ

120.

http://i44.tinypic.com/28mfgyf.jpg

Creativity and Intelligence:The Threshold Concept

• Research shows

teachers prefer to work

with the intellectually

gifted, although both

intellectually and

creatively gifted

students do equally

well in school.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media/multimedia/2009/07/14/media/

070909_dt_montessori1_t_w600_h600.jpg

Normal Curve for IQ

Normal Curve for IQ

Average IQ

68% of

Population

Low-

Normal

13%

Mild

Retardation

2%

Moderate

Retardation

1%

Bright

13%

Very

Superior

2%

Highly

Gifted

1%

SevereProfound

Eminent Creative People

• High intelligence is less related to adult creative eminence than other psychological traits and conditions.

• Perseverance

• Stimulation

• Luck

Eminence = High rank and reputation.

Eminent Creative People

• Traits:

– Independent and confident

– Motivation and energy

– Daring to make changes and challenge traditions

– Making waves bending rules

– Moving through failures

http://www.rankopedia.com/ZoneID=3/30656/Great

est-Painter-Ever/Step1/1653.htm

http://www.art

quotes.net/ma

sters/picasso/

picasso_selfp

ort1907.jpg

http://wahooart.com/A55A04/w.nsf/OP

RA/BRUE-

5ZKDC7/$File/Pablo%20Picasso%20-

%20Dryad.JPG

Important Issue

• Many creative producers have IQ’s in the 120-130 range.

• If students are selected on the basis of IQ and only the top 1-5 % are chosen,

• Many very creative individuals will not be in gifted programs.

• Therefore: Need to have a way for more creative people to be admitted.

Another Issue: Teacher Pleasers

• Teachers nominate students that “please”:

• Well-behaved, neat, conforming, dutiful.

• Often highly creative students are less well behaved and non-conforming.

http://mikesansone.typepad.com/photos/uncatego

rized/2008/10/06/teaching.jpg

Creative Students Not Always Noticed

• In a direct-instruction worksheet setting, the gifts of creative students may not surface and they will not be seen.

• Highly creative people make larger contributions to society than highly intelligent people who are not creative.

http://everythingabtme.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/lettere1.jpg

Traits of the Creative Person

• High energy and motivation:

– Impulsive, overactive

– Enthusiastic, excitable

– Spontaneous, persistent

– Persevering, adventurous

– Willing to work beyond assigned tasks

– High drive for accomplishment and recognition.

Another Important Trait

• Risk-taking:

– Not being afraid to try something new

– Not minding the consequences of being different

– Having courage, exposing oneself to hostility

– Rejecting limits imposed by others

– Gambling on failure

– Being willing to make a fool of oneself.

Emotional Barriers to Creative thinking

• Fear of failure

• Fear of rejection

• If you try a lot of new things, you are bound to fail at some.

• IMB Founder Thomas J. Watson: “The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.”

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_24/art04_24/0424_18innova.gif

Other Common Traits of Creative Persons

Original

• Imaginative, resourceful, flexible, unconventional

• Thinks metaphorically

• Challenges assumptions

• Asks, “What if?”

• Irritated and bored by the obvious

• Avoids perceptual set.http://www.archweb.it/arte/artisti_P/Picasso_G/images/Pablo%20Picasso%20-%20Figures%20on%20a%20Beach.JPG

http://www.boisseree.com/en/exhibitions/2005.html

Pablo Picasso

http://www.areaofdesign.com/americanicons/newman/PabloPicasso.jpg

Aware of Creativeness

• Creativity conscious

• Values originality

• Values own creativity

Georgia O’Keefe: This is just a beautiful line. It was painted from a real line: the road visible from the back of O'Keefe's house.

http://graphitefurnace.blogs.com/main/2004/10/georgia_okeefe_.html

http://www.e-marginalia.com/node/392/print

http://hawaiirama.com/2006/11/georgia-okeefe-in-hawaii

Georgia O’Keefe

Independent

• Self-confident, individualistic

• Nonconforming, sets own rules

• Unconcerned with impressing others

• Resists societal demands

Richard Feynman resisted the Nobel Prize in Physics because he didn’t like the hoopla that went with it. He painted his van with Feynman diagrams of nuclear reactions.

http://www.answers.com/topic/richard-feynman

Richard Feynman

Risk-Taking

• Not afraid to be different or to try something new.

• Willing to cope with hostility.

• Willing to cope with failure. http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa35/stinkingbadges2/BobDylanFacingCamerawithElectricGui.jpg

http://www.lutherie.net/bob_dylan.newport.64.color.jpg

When Bob Dylan switched from acoustic guitar to electric guitar, his audiences booed him. He persisted.

Bob Dylan

Motivated

• Energetic, adventurous, sensation-seeking

• Enthusiastic, excitable, spontaneous

• Impulsive, intrinsically motivated

• Perseveres, works beyond assigned tasks.

Hillary Clinton tried to implement a national health (creative policy) plan under President Bill Clinton. She persevered in her presidential campaign after it seemed that O’Bama had won the nomination.

Hillary Clinton

Curious

• Question norms and assumptions

• Experiments, inquisitive

• Wide interests

• Asks why?

Steve Jobs invented a whole new way to sell and play music through ITunes and IPod. Started in computers, then went to software, music, movies, and phones.

http://www.pmptoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/steve_jobs_ipod_-time-cover.jpg

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/images/finding_ipod.jpg

Steve Jobs

Sense of Humor

• Playful, plays with ideas

• Childlike freshness in thinking.http://www.extrememortman.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/phyllis_diller.jpg

http://www.papermag.com/blogs/dillerface.jpg

http://www.daylife.com/photo/06QM0eNgym5Uohttp://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/celebrity/movie.htmComedian Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller

Attracted to Complexity

• Attracted to novelty, asymmetry, the mysterious.

• Attracted to theoretical and abstract problems.

• Is a complex person.

• Tolerant of ambiguity, disorder, incongruity.

http://www.paulfriedlander.com/gallery/paulklee.html

http://fionalynne.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/paul-klee/

http://www.born-today.com/Today/12-18.htm

http://www.jeron.je/stARTing_points/new%20art%20pages/ks1/painting.htm

http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/art-print/With-Two-Dromedaries-and-a-Donkey-207088.html

Artist Paul Klee

Artistic• Artistic and

aesthetic interests

• Attracted to beauty and order.

http://oilpaintingdiscount.com/

http://artscenecal.com/ArtistsFiles/CassatM/CassatMFile/CassatMPics/CassatM1.html

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=33672923

http://www.jerryandmartha.com/yourdailyart/2007/06/sand-in-your-shoes.html

Artist Mary Cassat

Open-minded

• Receptive to new ideas and other viewpoints.

• Receptive to new experiences and growth.

• Liberal, altruistic.

The Beatles with their Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

http://astralwicks.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/

http://www.paulaltobelli.com/uploaded_images/beatles-india-727343.jpg

The Beatles

Needs Alone Time

• Reflective, introspective, internally preoccupied

• Sensitive

• May be withdrawn

• Likes to work alonehttp://highbridnation.com/2007/07/29/on-this-day-in-history-july-29/

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/vincent-van-gogh-final-paintings.htmhttp://www.artt

oheartweb.com/starry_night.htm

Vincent Van Gogh

Intuitive

• Perceptive, sees relationships, finds order in chaos.

• Uses all senses in observing.

http://libraries.idaho.gov/node/2103

Annie Dillard, Author

"When a mantis has crunched up the last shred of its victim, it cleans its smooth green face like a cat."

http://www.all-creatures.org/works/glf-mantis-27b.html

Intelligent

• Verbally fluent, articulate, logical

• Good decision-maker

• Detects gaps in knowledge

• Visualizes

http://sweetaddict.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/oprah-winfrey/

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/online/article71327.ece

http://www.hotmoviesale.com/p15492/The-Oprah-Winfrey-Show-20th-Anniversary-Collection.html

Oprah Winfrey

Negative Characteristics

• Overactive physically and mentally.

• Often observed in young children who sleep very little.

http://creeksedge.esva.net/replicas.html

Negative Characteristics

• Temperamental, emotional.

• Indifferent to conventions and courtesies.

http://www.celebcentric.com/ http://brandnu.org/wordpress/?p=161http://googlecashtip34.blogspot.com/2008/02/britney-spears-parents-still-in-charge.html

Singer/ Performer

Britney Spears

Negative Traits?

• Questions rules, laws, and authority

• Stubborn

• Resists domination

• Rebellious, uncooperative

Civil Rights protester Rosa Parks who refused to move to the back of the bus.

Negative Traits

• Egocentric, intolerant, tactless

• Capricious, careless, disorderly

http://tennesseeguy.wordpress.com/2007/11/

Writer Norman Mailer is considered an innovator of narrative nonfiction, a genre sometimes called New Journalism but which covers the essay to the nonfiction novel. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice and the National Book Award once.

Arrested for Vietnam protests, helped get a killer paroled who killed again, ran for mayor of NYC.

Negative Traits

• Absent-minded, forgetful, mind wanders.

• Sloppy and disorganized with details and unimportant matters.

http://www.bluestatecoffee.com/blog/2008/02/

Called the phone company to ask his own address because he had forgotten where he lived.Used to wash his socks by boiling them with potatoes for lunch.In later life, didn’t bother wearing socks at all.

Scientist Albert Einstein

Negative Traits?• Impatient,

demanding,

• Argumentative, argues that everyone else is wrong.

Ralph Nader

1965 book about car manufacturers not putting in safety features or seat belts.

Campaigned against excessive ornamentation and protruding bumpers hurt pedestrians in accidents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsafe_at_Any_Speed

Eminence

prominent, distinguished, reputed

Herbert J. Walberg

• Distinguished visiting fellow

at the Hoover Institution, a

think tank on the campus of

Stanford University,

dedicated to research in

domestic policy and

international affairs.

http://edrev.asu.edu/reviews/rev638.htm

http://www-

siepr.stanford.edu/images/KohlhagenTaylo

rVanHorneGrundfestWide.jpg

Walberg conducted

research on characteristics

of eminent persons.

Some of Walberg’s Work

• Factors influencing student learning.

• Smaller school districts and smaller schools are more efficient at enhancing educationaloutcomes.

• Cooperative partnerships between school and parents promote student achievement.

http://media.hoover.org/images/walberg-20080117.jpg

Walberg’s Work related to Gifted Education

Studies of Eminence

Personality Traits of Eminent People

• Eminent: prominent, distinguished, reputed.

• 14th – 20th centuries

• very common traits: – Versatility

– Concentration

– Perseverance

– Superior communication skills

– At least moderately high intelligence.

Additional Traits of Eminent Adults

• Ethical

• Sensitive

• Optimistic

• Magnetic and popular

Childhood Characteristics

• Exposed to stimulating family, educational, cultural conditions.

• 80% successful in school and liked it.

• 90% given considerable autonomy in their school years.

• 70% guided by clear parental expectations.

• Outstanding early accomplishments.

http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/

obama-

toddler_cst_feed_20070907_19_15_02

_1246-400-282.imageContent http://www.jewsonfirst.org/images/obama8.jpg

High School Students Study

• 771 high school students

• 3 groups;

– Won competitive awards in science

– Won awards in the arts

– Average classmates

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/lis

tings/work/teachingk12university/art

icles/leading_student_group_in_tan

zania.jpg

Findings of High School Study

• Scientist and artist groups both:

– Visited libraries for nonschool reading

– Had great numbers of books at home.

– Found books more interesting than people.

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/schools/matoaca

_hs/images/lmc/library%20interior2.png

Findings of High School Study

• Scientist and artist groups both:– Exhibited early strong

interests in mechanical and scientific objects as well as the arts.

– Were interested in work with fine detail.

– Were persistent in carrying things through.

http://blog.makezine.com/mechanical_art_1.jpg

More Findings of High School Study

• Scientist and artist groups both:– Liked school, studied

hard, completed their work faster than classmates.

– Felt more creative, curious, and expressive than others.

http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/news_impact/200

9/07/large_EH_ARTSCAMP1.jpg.jpg

More Findings of High School Study

• Scientist and artist groups both:– Believed it is

important to be creative.

– Selected creativity, rather than wealth and power, as the best characteristic to develop in life.

http://blog.mlive.com/fenton_impact/2009/03/large_Anna_Pilibosian43.JPG

More Findings of High School Study

• Scientist and artist groups both:– Indicated they were

brighter and quicker to understand than their friends.

– Attached great importance to money.

– Expected to earn higher salaries than average.

– Expected to earn graduate degrees.

http://www.acspotlight.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/moneyman.jpg

Differences in High School Study

• Scientists more likely to:• Be more concerned with

things and ideas.• More difficulty making

friends after changing schools.

• Did not date much.• More persistent.• More bookish.• Valued intelligence most.• Worried about job

security.

• Artists more likely to:• Be concerned with people

and feelings.• More involved in school

activities.• More social.• Valued creativity most.• Let fate take its course.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/130684243_c0ec7ebd41.jpg

Traits of Eminent Women Artists & Scientists

• Artists

• Creative, versatile,

• vital, energetic,

sensitive, and

• enjoyed their work.

• Early art work to the

exclusion of other

activities.

• Scientists

• precocious and hard working.

• Childhood: more concentrated on

science and engaged in scientific

activities;

• Childhood: more bookish and

scholarly.

• Many lived in rural areas and

pursued nature study, reading,

and writing.

Catharine Cox

• Identified 282 eminent persons.

• Examined their biographical and personal records.

• Estimated IQ ranged from 100 to 200 with an average of 159.

• Those who attain eminence:

• Born of intelligent parents and raised in advantageous circumstances;

• Show precocious childhood traits and behaviors;

• Show intelligence, persistence, confidence, strength of character.

http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/cox.shtml

Puzzle

• Terman’s students (IQ 140+) should have become eminent adults, but some were “misfits and failures.”

• Many of Catharine Cox’s people would not have been included in Terman’s study.

http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/corporate/board/executives.html

Dean Simonton’s Work

• IQ can be too high. A brilliant person can talk over the heads of others. May be dismissed as too “high brow” or “eccentric.”

• Intelligences other than those tested for in IQ can come into play.

http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/Simonton/DeanLib.jpg

Professor, University of

California, Davis

Research on biographical,

historical, and content

analytical data about eminent

creators and leaders

Dean Simonton’s Work

• Drive and determination are important and can make up for a lower IQ.

• Some mental disorder is common in many creative artists, actors, and writers.

• Terman’s group was very mentally healthy.

http://www.nagc.org/uploadedImages/Conventions

_and_Seminars/DeanSimonton.jpg

Genius is Born and Made

• First-born children overrepresented in Terman’s sample and other studies of eminent adults.

• Later borns are more likely to become great artists and writers.

http://chestofbooks.com/health/reference/Household-Companion/The-Family-

Doctor/images/The-Mother-And-Her-First-Born.png

Genius is Born and Made

• Traumatic childhood events characterize many eminent people: loss of parent, poverty, illness.

• Too much formal education and too high academic performance can be bad for eminence.

http://www.circlesolutions.net/circle/images/portfoli

o/ILL_ChildBedwetting-pop.jpg

Necessary Supports

• Bloom and Sosniak studied the home environment and early training of exceptional:

• Pianists, sculptors, swimmers, tennis players, mathematicians, and neurologists.

http://learning-to-

swim.co.uk/images/child_swimmer.jpg

Necessary Supports

• These represent artistic, motoric and cognitive skill areas.

• Home environments and parents responsible for nurturing and developing children’s skills.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/14/article-1077675-021BB5E8000005DC-

61_468x647.jpg

Helpful Conditions

• One or both parents had an interest in the particular talent and they were fairly good at it.

• Parents encouraged and rewarded children’s interests.

• Parents served as role models.

• Parents showed personality and lifestyle of a talented person.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/22/Mother,Child,ReliefSculpt

ure,SoldierField,Chicago.jpg/200px-

Mother,Child,ReliefSculpture,SoldierField,Chicago.jpg

Sequence of Events in Development

• Initially parents provided the necessary training.

• Then child switched to a professional instructor.

• Sometimes families moved so that the child could work with the best.

• Student’s dedication to talent area grew strong.

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4853572/140974-main_Full.jpg

Important Learning

• Handling failure constructively.

• Failures used to pinpoint where new skills need to be learned.

• Dropouts, in contrast, allowed failure to make them feel inadequate.

http://letssermo.com/handling-failure-and-no-running-away-from-it

Comparison to Regular Schooling

• At first, talent development is informal and similar to play.

• Then, talent development is totally individualized with praise and rewards based on individual objectives.

• Focus is on accomplishment and growth in one specialized area.

• Purpose and meaning are clear, inspiring dedication.

http://www.southernmamas.com/wp-

content/uploads/2009/07/sculpture-

class-giveaway.jpg

Exceptional Abilities

• Development takes time.

• 17 years for concert pianist.

• 15 Years for swimmers to be on Olympic team.

Communities of Practice

• Groups of people who share a particular focus on the talent, work in that area, and are anxious to support aspiring youth.

• The talent must be valued in the home of the child.

• Clubs, music /sports teachers, friends, science kits, performances, competitions, summer camps, books, magazines.

Sosniak’s Idea

• “We are quite confident that extraordinary levels of accomplishment are possible for individuals who do not necessarily show early promise.”

Examples of Some Exceptional Child Prodigies in Art

Child Prodigies

• A young person who performs at the level of a highly-trained adult.

• Usually show high IQ’s but not extraordinarily high IQ’s.

• Usually, this special ability is limited to one domain.

http://www.artnewsblog.com/2006/01/child-prodigies.htm

Akiane Kramarik on Oprah.

Akiane painted the self-portrait.

Akiane Kramarik Spiritual Young Artist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSGK5lvYMY

http://tete-a-tete-4-u.blogspot.com/2007/06/akiane-child-artist.html

Painted at age 9

Painted at age 10

http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeThe

World/entries/2007/02/06/akiane-kramarik-parents-

were-atheists-but-god-showed-up-with-a-

vision./1660

Paintings of Akiane Kramarik

Akiane with her painting of Jesus.

http://www.unftrd.com/blog/simply-remarkable

http://www.unftrd.com/blog/simply-remarkable

http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0707/artist.html

Where Does the Talent Come From?

• Individual genetics that allow giftedness in a particular domain.

• Environmental factors: a highly-organized field of knowledge that can be taught to the young person.

• Historical factors: The value society places upon the domain of achievement.

http://www.thecrystalcup.org/1.2/JesusMissingYears.jpg

Jordan Cook

Seeds in the Wind, Age 3

God’s Fruit, Age 4

Age 5

http://www.oil-essential.com/jordan-

cook/age8gallery.html

Paintings of Jordan Cook

http://www.itssupernatural.net/2009/05/12/sid-roth-with-guests-jordan-and-michelle-cook/

Jordan Cook with her mom on a talk show

http://www.reachingmyworld.co

m/a-selection-of-watercolor-

paintings-by-child-artist-jordan-

cook.html

Marla Olmstead, Abstract Painter

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3281715481/

Trailer of Movie

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01182/arts-graphics-2007_1182444a.jpg

Two Paintings of Marla Olmstead

http://meganannpluth.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/the-

young-marla-olmstead/ http://www.moreproof.com/jackie/?p=55