Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT in the U.S. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.
Welcome to Global Gifted and Talented Chat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented @TXGifted#TAGT ~ Thanks for joining us to chat about “Embracing Multipotentiality in Gifted Students” #gtchat
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate for gifted children, conference presenter, blogger and parent of 2 gifted adults from Pittsburgh, PA. Please take a minute to let us know who you are and from where you’re tweeting! #gtchat
Are you new to Twitter chats? We use the Q1) / A1) format for #gtchat … Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation. This will make sure that other chat participants see your tweets.
Lurking to learn? Please say ‘hi’ and then view a livestream from Participate Learning at https://t.co/1zR97oWQw0 Enjoy the chat! All the links and a summary of this chat will be posted later on our blog at https://t.co/Am9XhS2UwA#gtchat
Carol Raymond - parent, educator (@EAYoungAcademy), presenter, consultant, advocate, educational diagnostician, college advisor for GT/twice exceptional kiddos from North Richland Hills, TX. #gtchat
Carol Raymond - parent, educator (@EAYoungAcademy), presenter, consultant, advocate, educational diagnostician, college advisor for GT/twice exceptional kiddos from North Richland Hills, TX. #gtchat
Anna, 6-12th grade gifted facilitator from the Wichita, KS metro. I will be multitasking but, I have some kids struggling with multipotentality. #gtchat
Our first question is coming up in 1 minute; let’s get ready to chat! Please preface your responses with A1) Excited to collaborate and share ideas with you today about embracing multipotentiality! #gtchat
Anna, 6-12th grade gifted facilitator from the Wichita, KS metro. I will be multitasking but, I have some kids struggling with multipotentality. #gtchat
Hello. John Lester, Columbus OH. Executive director, Ohio Leadership Institute, gifted education consultant, past president of Ohio Association for gifted children. Author, still learning! #gtchat
A1 I see multipotentialities as the possibility of being good at nearly anything, or having deep interests/passions and not being able to decide. #gtchat
A1 Textbook: Multipotentiality is an educational/psychological term referring to the ability & preference, particularly of strong intellectual or artistic curiosity; to excel in 2 or more different fields. #gtchat
Hello. John Lester, Columbus OH. Executive director, Ohio Leadership Institute, gifted education consultant, past president of Ohio Association for gifted children. Author, still learning! #gtchat
A1 I see multipotentialities as the possibility of being good at nearly anything, or having deep interests/passions and not being able to decide. #gtchat
Anna, I think this actually starts early on. I plan to share a story from high school in a later question. How many here deal with overscheduling issues with students or their own children? #gtchat
A1) multipotentialite myself - I define it as a Passion and interest to do many things , ability to see the connection between two things which are considered different #gtchat
Multipotentialites are often mistaken as indecisive or inable to choose one career. But the truth is they follow their intuition and passion and are generally very joyful.What they do makes them happy #gtchat
How can you be good at too many things? Isn’t that like having too much money? #gtchat 😀 Finding a way to allow a child to use all of their talents should be one of our missions.
Yes. Often times the system adults have created normalizes "experts", "focus" , "how-to's" and "career options" & end up marginalizing our multipotentialites #gtchat
A2) Advantages include having many viable options for careers and leisure pursuits and many alternatives to fall back on if Plan A does not work out #gtchat
A1 The cycle starts young and is often either driven by overbearing parents who want to start their children's record of achievements in preschool, or they don't want to limit their children's interests and are unaware of the detriment's to the child's wellbeing. #gtchat
But too many choices can lead to the paralysis of indecision. Have you stood in the toothpaste aisle lately? How can you choose between all the flavors, brands, gels, pastes, whitening, tartar control, breath freshness and more? #gtchat
A2) Advantages include having many viable options for careers and leisure pursuits and many alternatives to fall back on if Plan A does not work out #gtchat
I agree. I have a bit of an issue with the term 'expert'. Always tell people I have 'expertise' but I hope I'm never an expert - for me it implies I don't have a lot more to learn and there's ALWAYS a lot more to learn. #gtchat#growthmindset
Sometimes it's like that isn't it. Mine's just got a whole lot busier. Also relieving/sub teaching this term so that I stay connected with real world of the classroom. #gtchat
I believe Passion is always evolving, we don’t carry single passion whole of our life. Based on our life experiences, age and many other factors, our interest and priorities change and I believe our passion also evolves. #gtchat
Oh my stars! Yes! So many of them have 5 AP classes, school sport, out of school competitive league and dance/instrument practice! This is why HS GT As need a chill out/HW class in their schedule.#gtchat
A3 I heard Dr. Bertie Kingore once say that we shouldn’t ask GT teens what they want to major in when they go to college, but rather, what they want to study first. Forcing a decision where there are so many choices and plenty of time to make them is too limiting. #gtchat
I believe Passion is always evolving, we don’t carry single passion whole of our life. Based on our life experiences, age and many other factors, our interest and priorities change and I believe our passion also evolves. #gtchat
A2) another important benefit of being a multipotentialite is the development of growth mindset. we are never afraid of learning something new, pushing ourself outside comfort zone #gtchat
We are already half way through our chat! Thank you for sharing so many inspiring thoughts about embracing multipotentiality! Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation. #gtchat
A3) HS: my mom took me to a counselor to help me pare down my schedule. My counselor said it was okay because I was doing well in everything and on track to be valedictorian. College: 21 to 24 hours a semester plus work and volunteer service. Now: major health issues. #gtchat
A3) Downsides of multipotentiality can be being pushed towards just one area of ability or indecision about which course to follow leading to some areas being overlooked #gtchat
I tell them to do something they enjoy. That way when they go to work they enjoy it and it doesn't feel like work. Instead they get paid to do what they love. #gtchat
I believe it depends on how we see it. If we measure growth , development and success with a standard statistical benchmark, then we see it as limiting. But if we measure it in a more holistic way, it can show the person’s potential #gtchat
See, I feel different. An expert is one who knows more but also knows that there is more to learn. My students are experts in minecraft. I want them to own their expertise and share. But yes, I get where you're going. It can't stop. #gtchat
A3) Growth mindset was mentioned as a benefit of multipotentiality, but sometimes it can lead to a fixed mindset. When individuals are so good at so many things, when SOMETHING is hard, they often avoid it. #gtchat
I think this is very true and it's a huge concern if we're leaving it this late. I look at the dropout rates and the number of students turned off school at such a young age and always question how many of them are actually gifted but they've been missed?? #gtchat
A4) The multipotentialites in my MS have the ability to create, make, and launch their ideas in multiple directions. They create their own driving questions of “why” and “how” w/ the help of facilitators and AIG coaches and construct their learning paths. #gtchat
Absolutely agree with you and I like your thinking on this. I think my issue is the experts who feel - or show - that they think they know everything and don't see themselves also as a learner. #gtchat
A3) Never being able to relax - there is always SO much to do/explore/pursue - I have 1 more masters degree and 3 PhDs in the pipeline. (I wear my timeturner, but I think it's defective...) #gtchat
There are so many variables that play into this ... financial not the least of them. Our dd saved A LOT of money doing this, but now is exploring passions after school. :) #gtchat
A3) all the so called downsides to multipotentiality is caused by the societal norms to be perfect, standard benchmarks, expectations and limitations - but I think the views are changing now with transformation of education systems
#gtchat
The more I think about it the more I love your way of thinking on this! It changes the perspective, especially if they also see it that way. Great food for thought. #gtchat
I've heard that the new nexus point is where these talents, strengths, interests intersect. Moving towards a synthesis of fields (Does this make sense?) #gtchat
The more I think about it the more I love your way of thinking on this! It changes the perspective, especially if they also see it that way. Great food for thought. #gtchat
A4) Giving yourself permission to dabble and experiment with several different things without feeling that you must excel in or commit solely to just one #gtchat
It's my favourite thing about the chats - love having my thinking challenged. Leads to so many 'aha' moments but you've got to be willing to let your thinking be challenged. #gtchat
A4) yes - that was where I was going with the "select sport" analogy. The culture in our area is fairly elite with multiple meetings for many activities (dance is OUT OF CONTROL). The commitment overwhelming. Perhaps pursue interests in weeklong summer courses. #gtchat
A4) Giving yourself permission to dabble and experiment with several different things without feeling that you must excel in or commit solely to just one #gtchat
Neglecting abilities such as leadership in young gifted children results in students developing areas of high achievement and other talents while neglecting the leadership ability which would allow them to use those talents in life. #gtchat
A5) Set limits! I used to think it was terrible that parents set a limit on a number of activities for their activities, but I now understand the importance after my study of gifted individuals. #gtchat
A4) I guess it’s the best time ever now for multipotentialites. Today’s world need learners with growth mindset. Embrace it within yourself, also among you students. It’s ok to study something that you are interested in even if we decide to move on later to something else #gtchat
A5) @PMSFalconsSS casts a wider net to GT services thru #studentledprojects. We invite all types of multipotentialites & help them create driving questions they will explore throughout the semester. Then Ss create their own learning paths w/ the help of AG coaches #gtchat#equity
A5) as a parent, encourage exploration, play, hobbies. Ensure your child understands grades does not define their learning, it is their effort that matters. Model for them by being a learner by making it visible for them. Learn together with them #gtchat
Yeah, but I really want another masters .... or .... PhD .... or .... But I can't figure out in what. I feel like I need to see the application or the end path. I can't seem to stop to view the journey. #gtchat
That's the hard part isn't it. Sometimes we need to step back and take an objective look at where we're headed - or find someone who can act as a 'critical friend' to ask the guiding questions we need. #gtchat
A5) Oooh - here's one that I'm still working on parents with - video game scholarships and competitive gaming at the collegiate level. IT'S A REAL THING! (And can be quite lucrative!) :) (Now, I'm not sure how the odds are...) #gtchat
A6 Multipotentialites should embrace the philosophy of ‘variety is the spice of life’; it is no longer necessary to remain in a single career throughout one’s life. It’s acceptable to hold multiple part-time positions that blend passions. #gtchat
A6) One tool I absolutely LOVE is YouScience. It gives students mini-assessments similar to Luminosity that determine abilities as well as interest inventories that determine their Holland code and they suggest a bunch of careers. #gtchat
A6) When working with my kids, I then look at those and we discuss how to COMBINE their multiple interests into a potential future career that people may not even know exists. Find a college that will prepare them for what they wish to pursue. #gtchat
A6a) From my own experience, I can say it takes time and contemplation to determine a career path. We need to be patient,reflect and most important -find your why? I entered education because I felt it satisfies my multipotentialite craving to learn new things everyday #gtchat
A6) This was supposed to be a reply to my first response - this was referring to "YouScience." I use it as a jumping off point with kids who don't know what they want to do. #gtchat
Connect with like-minds through uni or on here. One of my absolute best critical friends lived in China. He was a kiwi teaching over there. Incredibly tough on me but worth his weight in gold. Sadly he is no longer with us. #gtchat
Our chat next week will be hosted by #gtchat Advisor, Jeffrey Farley @FarleyJeffrey while @gtchatmod will be taking the week off! Please make sure to give Jeffrey a warm welcome! #gtchat
A6b) now I see so many possibilities again within education where I can link all the knowledge I got from other areas/ careers I had before. I would explain what others call as indecisive nature as contemplative nature of multi potentialite which guides us #gtchat
Our next chat: Thurs Oct 18th at 8E/7C/6M/5P US & Fri 19th Oct at 1PM NZDT/11AM AEDT/1AM UK. Please note TIME CHANGES. Our topic: “Gifted Education Coordinator: Stakeholder or Gatekeeper?” #gtchat
A6) But it can be detrimental when done poorly. I highly recommend working with someone who knows gifted - not someone used to working with the high achieving kiddos who are "Ivy League or nothing..." #gtchat
