Applying a Psychoeducational Identification Model to Middle School Rural Gifted Students With High Aptitude in STEM

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Current Issues in Gifted Education and Creativity Research

Abstract

The Talent Search Model, traditionally implemented outside the regular school setting as a portal to university-based extracurricular programming, uses above-level testing to determine readiness for advanced material. This investigation implemented the Talent Search Model in a school-based extra-curricular program to identify rural gifted students with high aptitude in STEM. Explore, an 8th grade test, was administered to 266 high-achieving (> 85th percentile on grade-level standardized tests) fifth graders. Explore science and math scores produced a normal distribution. Explore raised the ceiling and differentiated exceptionally capable students (those ready for accelerated curriculum) from high-achieving students. Additionally, students completed a self-report survey, Engage, which measures broad psychosocial attributes of motivation, self-regulation, and social-engagement. Results revealed psychosocial domains to address during accelerated programming.

Authors

• Susan G. Assouline, University of Iowa

• Ann Lupkowski Shoplik, The University of Iowa

• Lori Marie Ihrig, The University of Iowa