I am a DIVER. I find a topic that interests me, and I dive deeper, and deeper, and deeper. I have been diving into gifted education for more than 20 years, and I know I have more diving to do. In fact, at the age of nearly 58, I feel I have just hit my stride in my profession. I can’t imagine pulling up and moving on to a new passion.
While I feel comfortable as a Diver, there are many gifted people with multipotentiality who spend their lives as SCANNERS. According to Barbara Sher, author of Refuse to Choose, “Intense curiosity about numerous unrelated subjects is one of the most basic characteristics of a Scanner. Scanners are endlessly inquisitive. In fact, Scanners often describe themselves as being hopelessly interested in everything (although, as you’ll find out, this isn’t so). A Scanner doesn’t want to specialize in any of the things she loves, because that means giving up all the rest. Some even think that being an expert would be limiting and boring.” So, in the view of some Scanners, my preoccupation with gifted education could be both stifling and boring.
Scanners often get a bad rap from family and friends who expect them to “settle down” and grow up professionally. In college, they often move from major to major, trying any subject that sounds interesting, even if it doesn’t lead to a degree. As Sher suggests, scanners are different kinds of thinkers who are interested in building upon their many gifts and interests. Parents may be frustrated with their gifted adult children who are still searching for that perfect career, not understanding that a Scanner may focus on an area of interest until they have a better understanding of that topic, and then they are driven to move on to another area of interest. It is not important for Scanners to have the deep understanding about a topic that is desired by a Diver.
If you are the parent or partner of a Scanner, and you are frustrated about their unwillingness to make a commitment to a single major, job, or a hobby, be sure to read Refuse to Choose.
I had the pleasure of attending the 2008 National Association for Gifted Children conference earlier this month, and I was able to help showcase NAGC’s great new CD-Rom designed to help parents and educators navigate research and articles about gifted children. Here are is the summary of the “mile markers” from NAGC’s website:
Mile Marker #1: Discovering Differences
Do you have questions about your child’s exceptional abilities and differences? This Mile Marker includes information about characteristics and identification of giftedness as well as dispels some common myths.
Mile Marker #2: Exploring the World of G/T
If you have a good understanding of the “basics” of giftedness and talent development, here is more targeted information about particular areas, such as social and emotional issues, keeping a child challenged, developing organizational skills, and ways to support high achievement at home and at school.
Mile Marker #3: Asking for Directions
If you are ready for expert advice about what to expect in a school – including down-to-earth discussions of different instructional methods, and the vocabulary used by educators – you’ll find that here.
Mile Marker #4: Enlisting Support
You’re at this marker when need to reach out to others in exploring and explaining what might work best for your child. You’ll find suggestions for communicating clearly with your school as you become an effective advocate for your child.milemarker5
Mile Marker #5: Making a Difference
Are you ready to build support for the education of gifted children in your community, state, and nation? Here you’ll find resources to help you organize a local parent group, as well as learn about other opportunities to build advocacy efforts.
This valuable resource can be purchased for $24.95 from NAGC’s online bookstore. I hope that parents who can afford an extra $25 will purchase a copy for themselves and one for their child’s school. This is one small way to begin to make a big difference. It is not us against them when it comes to meeting the needs of gifted children, it is all of us together.
