The Project of the Gifted
The Complete Report of the Symposium on Gifted Care - Baghdad 1983
Scientific Talents and Methods of Their Identification.
-Methods Followed in Gifted Care
-The Supervisory Staff on the Gifted and the Principles of Selection, Training, and Development
The Nature of Scientific Talents and Methods of Their Identification.
1- Opinions of Psychologists and Educators in England and the United States
2- Regarding the Iraqi Project
Dr. Nouri Jaffar says in his research at the Symposium on Gifted Care
“The British perspective on interpreting the nature of intelligence and mental capabilities is encapsulated in a psychological theory termed by psychologists as the theory of innate intelligence [which was established by Spearman and modified within its general framework after Spearman’s death by both Burt and Vernon]. Its essence lies in the notion that intelligence is a general innate mental capacity present in all normal individuals from birth in varying degrees [as revealed by intelligence tests or assessments, as we shall see]. Innate intelligence is composed of two factors: a general factor that involves all mental processes to varying degrees, and countless specific factors, each related to a specific mental process. Spearman concluded before his death that in addition to the aforementioned factors, there exists a small number of additional intermediate factors less comprehensive than the general factor but broader than the specific factors, which he termed group factors.
According to proponents of this view, the gifted student is one whose intelligence quotient (IQ) is 135 or above. Innate intelligence is distributed among the population – according to proponents of this theory – in a certain manner [according to what they call the normal or bell curve], with the vast majority of the population falling in the middle, and a small group of individuals [those with talents or high intelligence quotient] at the upper end or left side, and a similar small group at the lower end or right side, who are the intellectually deficient [or mentally disabled].
As for the American perspective, it operates within the aforementioned general framework: acknowledging that intelligence is innate [meaning it is inherited and has a biological basis] and that it is distributed in varying quantities among the population, with the vast majority of people falling in the middle alongside minorities on the right and left sides, as mentioned above. However, the interpretation of the nature of intelligence differs radically from its English counterpart. In their view, there is no general factor or specific factors, but rather separate mental abilities [multiple, with variations in their composition, as we shall see] independent of each other. Thorndike, for example, speaks of the existence of three mental abilities [or three types of intelligence]: abstract intelligence, mechanical intelligence, and social intelligence.”
In His Research at The Symposium on Gifted Care.
The Iraqi Project:
- General Introductory Notes
- An Attempt to Interpret the Nature of Talents
- Methods of Identification
Dr. Nouri Jaffar says
“My enormously great hope is that our project, in the not-too-distant future, will become a splendid exemplary model to be emulated throughout the Arab world and developing countries. It should gradually transform into a scientific academy where faculty members and students engage in original, pioneering, fundamental theoretical and applied research.
In the light of modern neuroscience, there are no theoretically inherent mathematical [or non-mathematical] abilities, both unique and ordinary, ingrained in an individual’s nature [or even recorded in the brain], as all mental abilities evolve through environmental acquisition. However, their neural foundation is undoubtedly innate, manifesting itself as traits, advantages, inclinations, or cerebral tendencies [as will be mentioned], upon which the development of various mental abilities relies. It is worth noting that these aforementioned neural traits [which are to be discussed later] have multiple levels; the most pronounced of which are the ones that constitute the physical basis of the brain of the gifted on one side or another, but these neural traits do not in themselves, or by themselves, produce anything unless suitable environmental conditions are found and their potential is utilised to the maximum by the individual in the subject they are inclined to from an early age. It should be noted that these neural traits are generally present in all normal individuals in varying degrees, but they prepare them all to understand or comprehend all subjects of the curriculum at all stages in a way inferior to the level of innovation, which is also of increasing degrees.”
Further insights can be found in a manuscript that offers a more comprehensive examination of this subject:
- Creative Abilities in Individuals: Their Mental Foundations and Cultural Constituents.
- This manuscript provides a thorough analytical study of creative abilities across various domains including science, technology, literature, and art, with a particular focus on creative capacities in mathematics and poetry.
- In addition to that,, a study on the implementation of a gifted student care project is underway, slated for execution in the academic year 1983-1984.