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Sir Francis Galton
Galton believed heredity and natural selection played a part in giftedness. He was one of the first to research intelligence testing. Reference
Jolly, J.(2005). Foundations of the Field of Gifted Education. Gifted Child Today, 28(2), 14-65 -
Alfred Binet
Binet was the first to create tests to classify children based on their intelligence. Reference
Jolly, J. (2005). Foundations of the Field of Gifted Education. Gifted Child Today, 28(2), 14-65 -
Lewis Terman
Terman is known as the "father" of the gifted education movement. He published the Binet-Simon test, which changed American education and intelligence testing forever. Reference
National Association for Gifted Children. (n.d.). A brief history of gifted and talented. Retrieved from http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/gifted-education-us/brief-history-gifted-and-talented-education -
Leta Hollingworth
Known as the "Nurturant Mother" of gifted education. Hollingworth published Gifted Children: Their Nature and Nurture, the first textbook on gifted education. She also started P. S. 500, the Speyer School, for gifted children ages 7-9 in 1936. Reference
National Association for Gifted Children. (n.d.). A brief history of gifted and talented. Retrieved from http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/gifted-education-us/brief-history-gifted-and-talented-education -
Calvin Taylor
Taylor's totem pole of multiple talents shows that the majority of students will obtain special skills or talents of some type. There have been 3 more talents added to the original 6. They include, implementing, human relations, and discerning opportunities. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Howard Gardner
Garder developed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. These intelligences include: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist (recently added) intelligences. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Francois Gagne
Gagne believes that "gifts should refer to natural abilities and talents to learned performances" (Davis, Rimm, & Siegle, 2010). His model shows that environment and intrapersonal factors such as motivation, either helps or discourages the development of talent. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Joseph Renzulli
Renzulli believes there are three factors that are important for developing gifted behavior. They make up the three ring concept of giftedness. The three concepts are above average ability, creativity, and task commitment. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Richard Herrnstein & Charles Murray
Herrnstein and Murray wrote the book "The Bell Curve". They felt that highly intelligent people provided professional leadership. The book caused controversy because others believed that high intelligence does not mean people will be successful in life. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Donna Y. Ford
Ford is a professor at Vanderbilt University and is an expert on gifted black students. She is a consultant to help recruit and retain black and Hispanic gifted students. Reference National Association for Gifted Children. (n.d.). Donna Y. Ford. Retrieved from https://www.nagc.org/bio/donna-y-ford -
Robert Sternberg
Sternberg agrees that giftedness cannot be identified by a single IQ number. He stated that there are three main types of intelligence. They are: analytic giftedness, synthetic giftedness, and practical giftedness. He says that a gifted individual would be well-balanced in the three abilities. Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010). Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. -
Abraham Tannenbaum
Tannenbaum has 5 factors that contribute to giftedness. Those factors are: superior general intellect, strong special aptitudes, supportive personality traits, challenging and supportive environment, and "the smile of good fortune at critical periods in life".
Reference Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2010).Education of the gifted and talented. (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
