E. Jean Gubbins
The University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
Our proposal for Year 4 (1993-94) of The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented has been submitted to the United States Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, and we are reviewing the scope of our work that will reach its conclusion in May 1995. As all of you know, the NRC/GT is funded by the Jacob K. Javits legislation. The priority of the Javits Act follows:
All of the research that we implement is based on this priority and the results of our National Research Needs Assessment Survey. We are involved in 20 research studies to date that have been highlighted in our newsletters. We have also commissioned papers for our Research-Based Decision Making Series on topics and issues that are pertinent to the future directions of gifted and talented education. To ensure that we are addressing as many issues as possible and representing the multiple viewpoints of practitioners and researchers, we would like to once again ask for your involvement with our work.
There are three ways that you can become more involved in the NRC/GT projects. The first is through Collaborative Research Studies, the second is the Research-Based Decision Making Series, and the third is through the NRCIGT Newsletter. Each of the projects will be highlighted for your consideration.
At the American Educational Research Association Conference in April 1992, we initiated Collaborative Research Studies with our Consultant Bank members. Several studies are in progress and others are welcomed. Collaborative researchers have access to other researchers in our Consultant Bank, and they have the opportunity to conduct their research with our Collaborative School District network. If you are interested in pursuing a research project, please submit a letter of intent, a three page synopsis of your proposed project, and a vita. The synopsis should address the Javits priority and one or more of the recommendations of the National Research Needs Assessment Survey. The research recommendations from the Needs Assessment Survey were in the NRC/GT Newsletter (June 1991) and the monograph entitled, Setting an Agenda: Research Priorities for the Gifted and Talented Through the Year 2000. The recommendations include a need for studies on program effectiveness, motivation, teacher training, curriculum modifications, and underachievement.
Your submission for the Collaborative Research Study will be reviewed by the NRC/GT staff, and we will determine the resources that will be made available to you if you project is accepted. The resources may include research sites, co-researchers, and possibly a small honorarium to cover expenses.
The second project that may be of interest to you is becoming involved as a writer for our Research-Based Decision Making Series. The series provides practitioners with research-based information that has direct implications for identification, teaching practices, program organization and development, and policy development. Thus far these papers have focused on ability grouping, cooperative learning, self-concept, arts identification, television and kids, creativity, reading, and evaluation. Topics for other papers that are in various stages of completion include: college preparation, science, mathematics, counseling, and underachievement, to name a few. If you are interested in preparing a paper for the Research-Based Decision Making Series, please submit a letter of intent, a three page synopsis, vita, and a writing sample of an article that has practitioners as the major audience. The synopsis will be reviewed by the NRC/GT staff for relevance to the Javits legislation and the potential impact of the research-based information for policy makers.
The third project also involves writing. We have encouraged people in the past to contribute to the NRC/GT Newsletter, and we have received some excellent materials for the following sections:
- Commentary
Articles for the Commentary section should be approximately 1,000 words. The articles should focus on research issues, curriculum development projects, identification strategies, or evaluation techniques.The Commentary section could also be a review of books, journal articles, or audio-visual training materials.
- Research in Progress or Recent Research
Abstracts of approximately 200 words describing research projects in progress or recently completed research are requested. You should encourage readers to contact you for follow-up information or use the abstract as an opportunity to find out if other researchers are pursuing hypotheses along similar lines. - Just Off the Press
Articles of approximately 500 words should highlight books, articles, and research reports that translate research findings into practice.
We are pleased with the response to our publications and hope that more people will become involved in the work of the NRC/GT.