Talent-Targeted Teaching and Learning: A Model for Motivating and Engaging Every Learner

Balanced research and practice

Talent-Targeted Teaching and Learning is a comprehensive model that applies the psychology of motivation, engagement, and achievement in practical tools that educators can use to focus learning on long range goals for “educating innovators.” Using this approach, teachers create talent goals and learning experiences that explicitly target the “the seven aptitudes of innovators:” curiosity, logical reasoning, creativity, insight, persistence, metacognition, and leadership. In addition, talent goals can target domain-specific aptitudes in STEM and the humanities, such as problem solving, spatial reasoning, and communication. Participants will engage in the five components of the Talent-Targeted Teaching and Learning model: (1) Create a talent development mindset; (2) Develop talent-targeted goals and performances of understanding; (3) Teach the talents using problem-based studies; (4) Assess the talent goals using developmental rubrics; (5) Reflect using protocols embedded within the Talent Development Portfolio. Examples of Talent-Targeted Lessons and Unit Plans will be shared (grades 4 – 8).