Nurturing the gifted imperative for realizing the ‘demographic dividend’. The precociously gifted outweigh the rest of society in their influence. Imagine what is possible if the top 1% realize their potential!

1. Nurturing the Gifted Child
Vishnuteerth Agnihotri

2. Nurturing the gifted imperative for realizing the
‘demographic dividend’
“…these gifted students, the 'mathletes' of the world, can shape the future. When you
look at the issues facing society now — whether it's health care, climate change,
terrorism, energy — these are the kids who have the most potential to solve these
problems,” David Lubinski, Psychologist, SMPY, Vanderbilt University (How to raise a
Genius, Nature, Sep 2016)
• The precociously gifted outweigh the rest of society in
their influence
• Imagine what is possible if the top 1% realize their
potential!

3. Early Identification a prerequisite for realizing this
potential
• Many innovators supported in their early years through
enrichment programmes
• All the above personalities are examples!
• 12- 14 years a good age for talent identification

4. Identification, Recognition and Nurture are the 3
important steps
Realize
Potential!
Identify Recognize Nurture

5. • 2 levels of testing established practice in talent
identification
• Gifted students selected through this process have
performed excellently in gifted programs over the years
(Duke TIP, Northwestern CTD, ASSET Summer Programme….)
• ASSET Talent Search score recognized by leading gifted
education organizations
Identify Recognize Nurture
Top 10%
Top
1%
ASSET 90th percentile/
School Nominations
Advanced Test
(ASSET Talent Search)
~90th percentile; portfolio

6. Identify Recognize Nurture
Springboards to leap from! (Not laurels to rest on)

7. Identify Recognize Nurture
Standardised tests should not be used to limit students' options, but rather to develop
learning and teaching strategies appropriate to children's abilities, which allow
students at every level to reach their potential- How to raise a Genius, Nature, Sep
2016
Recognition a prerequisite for nurture
Hey.. Go play with other
15 year-olds!
Imagine his future and
that of Indian Cricket if
we had said that…

8. Identify Recognize Nurture
“I was shy and the social pressures of high school wouldn't have made it a good fit for
me,” says Bates, now 60. “But at college, with the other science and math nerds, I fit right
in, even though I was much younger. I could grow up on the social side at my own rate
and also on the intellectual side, because the faster pace kept me interested in the
content.” Joseph Bates, currently 60 years old, who was identified as gifted at the age of
12 and had completed his Masters in Computer Science by the age of 17 (How to grow a
genius, Nature, Sep 2016
Nurture involves different aspects-
• Not restricting what can be learnt on the basis of age/
pace of average learner (acceleration)
• Providing challenging and meaningful problems to work
on
• Opportunities to work with students of similar potential
• International exposure e.g. Study Abroad
• Guidance and mentoring from subject experts and
teachers who understand giftedness
• Appropriate social and emotional support

9. Identify Recognize Nurture

10. Identify Recognize Nurture
How gifted students respond when they get the
environment they need…

11. Identify Recognize Nurture
2016-17 Programs
Firm
• ASSET Summer Programme- May 2017
• 3 weeks
• Most likely Bangalore
• ASSET Summer Programme- July 2017
• 3 weeks; Location to be decided
• Partner Programs in the US- June 2017- August 2017
• 2-4 weeks
• Various University Campus locations in the US
Being Planned
• Renzulli Creativity Program- Dec 2016?
• 1 week; Bangalore