Wow! eBook
Fundamentals of Gifted Education: Considering Multiple Perspectives
Author(s): Carolyn M. Callahan (Editor), Holly L. Hertberg-Davis (Contributor)
- Publisher: Routledge
- Publication Date: 23 July 2012
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 504 pages
- ISBN-10: 041588151X
- ISBN-13: 9780415881517
Book Description
The field of gifted education is characterized by a confusing array of perspectives concerning such fundamental issues as definition, philosophy, curriculum, social and emotional development, and underserved populations. The mission of this book is to provide a coherent framework that instructors and service providers can use in planning effective programs, providing appropriate counseling services, and evaluating programs for the gifted. Most sections are organized around fundamental issues confronting the field and follow a common structure: an introductory chapter that provides historical and theoretical background and organizing questions followed by several point-of-view chapters written by experts that provide varied perspectives on the topic at hand.
Distinguishing Features
Comprehensive Coverage – The book’s forty-five manageable-length chapters cover the full range of topics that must be considered in planning programs and services for gifted students both within and outside of school.
Coherent Structure – Section introductions provide background information and organizing questions to guide chapter authors who provide varying views of the issue at hand. The emphasis is not on the “right way” or the “wrong way” (except when clearly documented bad practice is discussed), but on how best practice stems from well-informed and logical decision-making.
Decision Making Focus – The book’s introductory chapter addresses the need for a clearly developed and consistently applied set of values to guide decision making. Likewise, each section introduction includes a decision making framework regarding some aspect of educating, counseling, or parenting gifted students.
This book is appropriate for introductory level courses in gifted education or courses in program development and planning. It is also suitable for school personnel responsible for making program planning decisions in the area of gifted education and for academic libraries with holdings in this area.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Nancy Robinson (U. of Washington) – “I am intrigued by the format the authors have proposed and believe that it will work well for them. I am, frankly, weary of compilations of chapters written by acknowledged experts in this field, books that lack coherence and focus for the reader. This format promises to keep the readers’ eyes on the ball of rational decision-making using the best available research evidence. The table of contents looks quite appropriate to me”… “I see the strengths as the authors’ maintaining control and focus on evidence-based decision making in the context of competing approaches; their choice of strong, clear-thinking researchers to write the chapters; good coverage of the issues; and their own leadership in the field… I don’t see any striking weaknesses.” (Note: like most reviewers she had a couple of suggestions for improvement).
Cheryll Adams (Ball State University) – “I am excited to finally see a book that I feel will benefit my students as they become decision-makers in their school districts. The format of this book will fill a void that is currently not addressed in any of the other introductory texts. In general, the (other) texts tend to be regurgitations of the authors’ points of view with a few differing ideas thrown in for good measure. This book promises to offer multiple points of view that are based on ‘sound rationale’ rather than asking the reader to buy a one-sided perspective which may or may not have a sound rationale based on research.
I find the book plan format and chapters quite comprehensive. All the key features are important; I wouldn’t change anything. I particularly like the summary sections. Some discussion questions at the end of chapters would be a nice, but not critical addition… Realistically, I think the book will be used primarily for an introductory course in gifted education, although a class on issues in gifted education or program design might find it helpful as a supplemental text. I am positive this book will be a top contender for those selecting textbooks for an introductory course, particularly because of its unique format… I will definitely use it.
About the Author
Carolyn Callahan (PhD University of Connecticut) is Commonwealth Professor of Education at the University of Virginia. She has been a principal investigator on projects of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented for the past 19 years. She has published more than 180 refereed articles and 50 book chapters across a broad range of topics on gifted education. She is a Past-President of The Association for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children. She is currently Editor of Gifted Child Quarterly.
Holly Hertberg Davis (PhD University of Virginia) is an educational consultant specializing in differentiation of instruction, advanced curriculum, and professional development. She is a former faculty member at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education, where she taught courses in the education of the gifted and was a principal investigator for the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. She has written and presented extensively on her primary research interests: differentiation of instruction, staff development, and equity in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.
