Evaluating Programs for the Gifted: Four Questions About the Larger Issues

Abstract

This paper discusses four major issues concerning the evaluation of programmes for the gifted. 1

The need to evaluate gifted programmes so that planning, development and accountability form a natural sequence of educational objectives.

Decisions for change and improvement can only be made in the light of sound evaluation and this evaluation must consider the practical as well as the educational issues.

Evaluation should be diagnostic and specific to a particular programme.

It must be recognised that the evaluation of gifted programmes requires awareness of the problems associated with assessing ‘higher level’ objectives; the unsuitability of conventionally standardized tests and the practical demand on time, money and trained personnel.

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