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Research

On this page:
Research Orientation in Gifted Education
Postgraduate Research Projects

Research Orientation in Gifted Education

Our research interests are in the three key areas of gifted learning described below. 
  1. understanding the nature of knowledge that leads simultaneously to gifted learning outcomes and learning disabilities
  2. understanding the nature of knowledge that leads to creative and innovative ways of thinking and outcomes
  3. understanding aspects of gifted and talented thinking and learning
Papers describing aspects of this work are presented regularly at conferences, 7th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness, Igniting Children's Potentials and Creativity, held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 12-16, 2002.

1.  Cognitive aspects of gifted learning

This aspect of our work examines some of the  cognitive and metacognitive processes characteristic of gifted learning and thinking such as far transfer.

2.  The learning characteristics of gifted students who have learning disabilities

Our focus here is on how gifted students who have specific learning disabilities go about learning and how they can be assisted to improve their literacy and numeracy learning strategies, while taking account of their gifted learning.   Recent articles (available as PDF files by clicking the links below) are

Munro J.  (2002).  Understanding & identifying gifted learning disabled students. (pdf) Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities,   7,   (2)   20 - 30.

Munro J. (2002). The reading characteristics of gifted literacy disabled students Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities (pdf) 7,   (2) ,  4-12.

3.  Creativity

The focus of this work here is on the range of ways in which individuals generate creative outcomes, the processes that can trigger or inhibit creative thinking and on the implications of this for teaching. We are focusing on the teaching conditions that are more likely to foster the use of creative thinking strategies and innovative outcomes.

A recent article is:
Munro J. (2002).  Fostering  creativity :  Understanding the 'flash of insight' In Igniting Children's Potentials and Creativity. (pdf)   Proceedings of the 2002 Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness.     Bangkok, Thailand

A paper describing our most recent research on  the model of gifted literacy learning disabilities will be presented at 15th Biennial World Conference for the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children in August,  2003.


Postgraduate Research Projects

The areas in which student currently pursue Masters and Doctoral research studies match those of the research interests of the Unit. Postgraduate Research projects are in the following areas:

Learning characteristics of students who are both gifted and learning disabled

One group of Doctoral students is examining the learning characteristics of gifted students who have learning disabilities across the spectrum of primary and secondary education.    The focus here is on the cognitive - developmental and metacognitive aspects of gifted learning disabilities.
  • Metacognitive Differences Between Sub - Types of Giftedness and Learning Disability
    • This thesis examines differences in metacognitive knowledge and strategy use by primary age students who have learning disabilities by comparing their learning with that of students who have learning difficulties and who are not gifted.
  • Self efficacy and gifted learning
    • This thesis examines the role of self efficacy in gifted learning for students who are are gifted (1) verbally  (2) mathematically  (3) nonverbally,  the extent to which  it is determined by the learning contexts in which they learn. 
  • The learning characteristics of gifted literacy disabled adolescents
    • This thesis investigates the knowledge and learning characteristics of these students and  teaching procedures intended to optimise the academic learning of these students.
Cognitive factors influencing creativity

A second group of Doctoral students is developing a series of studies examining aspects of cognitive factors that influence creativity and the production of  creative outcomes. 

Topics of theses researched in this area include:
  • The  influence of learner variables on creative  thinking in the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge
Two subjects in the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme  are  the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge. This study examines the influence of various learner variables on creative thinking and the development of creative outcomes  in these subjects.   It also examines the ways in which cultural variables contribute to perspectives of creativity.
  • The role of visual imagery in solving technological problems with primary aged children
This thesis examines the extent to which visual imagery contributed to the attributes of creativity and aesthetics in the design of technological products by primary aged students.
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