Talent development

What do we mean by talent development?

Duration: 2 minutes 30 seconds

Narrator

The High Potential and Gifted Education Policy applies to all NSW Department of Education school staff and teachers.

The department is committed to supporting all students to achieve their educational potential.

The policy recognises that high potential and gifted students require evidence-based talent development to optimise their growth and achievement.

So what do we mean by talent development?

Talent development is a deliberate, systematic process or program by which a student's potential is supported in a specific domain such as

  • the intellectual,
  • creative,
  • social-emotional, or
  • physical domain.

The goal of talent development is to translate potential into actual performance, so a student is able to achieve personal excellence.

The development of talent however, can be either supported or inhibited by external or internal factors.

Professor Françoys Gagné provides a framework for understanding the "complex choreography" of these internal and external factors necessary to develop talent.

External factors such as teachers, school leaders, learning programs and opportunities can help to foster the development of talent.

Likewise internal factors such as motivation, effort, and learning skills also play an important part in developing talent.

Gagné argues that the development of talent cannot be left to chance, as students, including high potential and gifted students, will not become outstanding achievers by themselves.

This means that :

  • families
  • educators
  • peers
  • mentors
  • events and/or programs

can play a particularly important role, in supporting talent development for disadvantaged students. These students may not have similar access to opportunities compared to other students.

By deliberately and explicitly supporting talent development for all students, we ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve their educational potential.

Capitalising on curiosity and interest, ensuring high potential and gifted students are challenged and engaged, as well as supporting wellbeing are all important factors in maximising the development of talent.

By providing optimal learning conditions, teachers and school leaders will make a difference in supporting the development of talent for their high potential and gifted students.

So let's...

find the potential

develop the talent

make the difference.

End of transcript.

Category:

  • Teaching and learning

Business Unit:

  • Educational Standards
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