What is "giftedness"?

A more involved description provided by the Columbus Group in 1991 defines giftedness as an “asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm.” This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity, they wrote. “The uniqueness of the gifted renders them vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching, and counseling in order for them to develop optimally.”

Some characteristics of gifted learners:

• Rapid learners.
• Strong memory.
• Large vocabulary.
• Advanced comprehension of nuances.
• Largely self-taught.
• Unusual emotional depth.
• Abstract/complex/logical/insightful thinking.
• Idealism and a sense of justice.
• Intense feelings and reactions.
• Highly sensitive.
• Long attention span and persistence.
• Preoccupied with own thoughts.
• Impatient with self and others’ inabilities and slowness.
• Asks probing questions (able to go beyond what is taught).
• Wide range of interests.
• Highly developed curiosity.
• Interest in experimenting and doing things differently.
• Divergent thinking.
• Keen and unusual sense of humor.