Friday, November 24, 2006

Future shapers! The characteristics of these individuals he shared were:

Creative societies need creative people.

Posted by Bruce at 9:48 am Labels: Creativity, Talent Development I have really enjoyed your last three blogs on creativity - makes sense to me.

12:33 pm Bruce said...

I have got to admit - little of it is original but I thought it worth sharing. The country that develops the most diverse range of talents will lead the world in what some are calling an 'Age Of Talent'. And this must include ALL students!

1:24 pm I bet very few 'beyonders' work in the Ministry!

Be like living in group 'think tank' - all frightened to swim against the current.

2:59 pm Erica email@example.com said...

So here we are talking about gifted education with a few more synonyms.
I arrive at this discussion with baggage and frustration and a little bit of weariness. I have advocated for gifted children since 1981 - low key at first and working my way up to a state wide government (Queensland, Aust) funded project in 1997-9. Ten years later we see the discontinuance of funding for the 8 or so Focus Schools that were set up (the 1st four by my guidance and training).
In that time SOME pedagogical changes were made by individual teachers with a measure of success.
However, even within Focus Schools - the hubs of enlightenment - I saw both resistance to change towards good practice and lip service paid towards REALLY empathising with the needs of these gifted children.
Why are so many teachers soooo unwillingly to be self critical (as in critiquing) and be open to self improvement? The main feature of my teaching style and practice is constant improvement in response to the learning needs of my students. I have, in my career gained so much satisfaction from doing this - the rewards are the relationships I have had with my students that demonstrate
*connection with the material AND the learner-facilitator dynamic
*fun and laughter
*shared problem solving
*personal growth towards more rounded, compassionate people who act with purpose (starting with me!)
*and others which, if you have embarked on this journey you will know.
Now semi-retired and under-utilised I sit working with Intellectually Disabled students and ponder the commonalities of their learning needs with those of the gifted.
...Wondering how many underserved gifted students are pushing through inappropriate learning experiences in our Qld schools.
...Wondering how many will decide it's all too hard and drop out of society like my second son, an unemployed Honours Degree Archeologist who is now wandering around the rural parts of Aust, picking fruit, talking to scientists and ecologists about the state of our physical world and what's to be done.
...Wondering what a waste we have created - not only of the Planet, but our best conscious minds.
I look forward to a response that can provide a ray of hope.
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