How to Recognize Talent in Science

Talent

Talent may just happen, but it involves three levels of development. First is the enjoyment level. A person enjoys participation in an activity that will lead to the talent. It can be pure personal enjoyment or it can be an enjoyment derived from a value or external support. The second level is deliberate practice. A person will set goals to practice and attempt to deliberately get better at the activity or particular elements of the activity. This practice can be solitary or involve other participants as competitors, collaborators, supporters, observars, or coaches. The third level is a commitment to become really good, professional, or to achieve a fairly sophisticated goal. Whether you use Malcolm Gladwell’s 10 000 hours from Outliers as the time required for becoming an expert or you believe talent can decrease or lack of talent increase those hours of comitment and practice I believe everyone witll agree that practice is essential for those with talent or those to develop talent to become an expert.

• Demonstrate intense involvement in self-selected tasks.
• Is ready to get to work with out directions.
• Asks questions.
• Learns from people.
• Wants to know how things work. Takes things apart and puts them together.
• Is curious about what she or he sees, feels, and hears.
• Is interested in a variety of subjects.
• Enjoys collecting objects related to science interests.
• What to identify objects in collections.
• Invents games related to science.
• Possesses a "let’s try" approach.
• Looks at pictures in books and magazines to learn.
• Is a very good observer.
• Notices detail others miss.
• Uses words in unique ways to express feelings, observations, and knowledge.
• Uses metaphors and analogies to explain.
• Talks in a conversational manner. Listens and responds appropriately.
• Organizes materials in meaningful ways.
• Shows interest in and understanding of numbers, counting, quantity, measurement.
• Avidly explores and enjoys nature.
• Enjoys exploration of materials and ideas, both old and new.
• Is easily motivated by field trips, books, and new materials.
• Responds positively to adult suggestions that broaden the task being explored.
• Accepts a challenge, expresses little fear of the unknown or difficulty.
• Is persistent in science tasks.
• Contributes ideas when problems occur.
• Is creative in associating ideas with materials.
• Is independent in thought and work habits.
• Enjoys the spatial challenge of new and difficult problems.
• Is self-confident
• Assumes a leadership role

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©