Growing Within and Outside of School: Voices of "Super Users" of Supplemental Gifted Programs

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

Abstract

This study examines the experiences and learning outcomes of 498 7th-12th graders who participated in a university-based supplemental gifted program at least four times and therefore were designated as “super users”. Three preliminary findings emerge from interviews of 32 super users at the time of this proposal: (1) Most of them began their participation in early elementary school initially because of parental support, but their own interest and internal motivation drove their ongoing participation; (2) Frequent participation improved their academic performance in school and raised their confidence and self-concept; and (3) Compared with their regular schools, outside of school gifted courses were more challenging, had better quality instruction, and better opportunity to be with peers with similar ability and interests.

Authors

• Saiying Steenbergen-Hu, Northwestern University

• Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, Northwestern University

• Eric Calvert, Northwestern University