A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Approved by PEP for grades 1-6. Data currently being gathered in kindergarten and 7th-12th grade implementations.

Description Talents Unlimited is a teaching/learning model which integrates creative and critical thinking skills into the set curriculum in any classroom arena. Based on the Multiple Talents Approach to Learning developed by Dr. Calvin Taylor at the University of Utah, this program increases student performance in specific TALENTS processes including Productive Thinking, Communication, Forecasting, Decision Making, and Planning with the Academic Talent as the frame of reference for all activities.

While Talents Unlimited indirectly addresses Goals 2 and 6 of the National Goals for Education, Talents Unlimited effects an immediate impact on Goals 3 and 5 which deal with specific content areas. Students improve in higher order thinking based on enhanced academic knowledge.

The model features three major components:

• Teacher Training - Professional development opportunity directed by certified trainers where teachers learn the TALENTS processes and strategies for classroom implementation.

• TALENTS Instruction - Lessons modeling TALENTS processes and technical assistance directed by a certified trainer which guide teachers as they generate meaningful, accurate activities to address curriculum and enhance thinking.

• Student Assessment - Instruments and activities, formal and/or informal which measure student performance in TALENTS thinking skills.

Evidence of Effectiveness When compared to a similar non-Talents Unlimited trained group, students trained in the Talents Unlimited model demonstrated significant gains in creative/critical thinking skills as measured by the program designed and validated criterion-referenced tests and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking: improved self-esteem as measured by the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory; and enhanced academic scores as measured on the Stanford Achievement Test.

Requirements A 12-16 hour inservice conducted by a certified trainer is necessary before teachers implement the Talents Unlimited program in their classrooms. After this initial training, teachers will need various forms of technical assistance to insure an accurate, effective program adoption.

Costs The costs for the initial teacher inservice (typically 30 people) to an adopter include travel, lodging and food for the consultant, and other travel expenses incurred, a consulting fee, and a materials fee per participant. A minimum of two days of training are required for classroom implementation. In addition, it is recommended that each adoption site purchase a Talents Activity Packet (TAP), a notebook of model Talents lessons available for $50, as a reference for all Talents-trained teachers.

Services Awareness materials are available at no cost. There are 12 National Demonstration Sites in the United States, which may be visited throughout the school year upon request to the building administration. Program staff is available to attend out-of-state awareness meetings (travel and per diem to be negotiated). Training is conducted either in Mobile or at the adopting school site. Implementation and follow-up services are available to adopters (all expenses to be negotiated).

Contact

Brenda Haskew, Talents Unlimited, 109 South Cedar Street, Mobile, AL 36602. (205) 690-8060, FAX (205) 344-8364.

Developmental Funding: USOE ESEA Title III.
JDRP No. 74-82 (6/6/74)
Recertified (3/19/91)

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