Skill competition and excellence in skills.

A number of terms used by teachers to describe "gifted" students: bright, talented, high flier, exceptionally able. Teachers use these terms to refer to students who have demonstrated particular abilities and for whom different educational provision is needed (Thomson, 2006, p 3). Definig giftedness has progressed from a one-test and one-fixed construct  approch centering on intellectual giftedness to the concept of multiple talents or intellegence (George, 2003). One definition says that gifted students have the potentional to demonstrate superior perfomances in a number of areas and talented refers to those who do this in single area (George, 2000 cited by Thomson, 2006). Gagne proposed model of giftedness and talent where giftedness is the potential or aptitude within an individual and that this can be developed into talent by environmental  or other factors. 

05-09.05.14
Special needs education

Main ideas that we could point out from the lessons is following:

 School should not be separated from the society because processes in society influence on school and conversely. Also everybody should be within the limits of the system that's why geverment tries to take care  of everyone. 

Not all the children with disabilities may have learning disabilities. 

Special needs education in Finland is based on the law that everybody has the  right to learn.  The goverment's policy on special needs education  can be seen by example of Kiipula Vocational College. Kiipula Vocational College is a centre of vocational education and a development centre for special education. This college provides study possibilities for students with special needs. It also provides services adult education, rehabilitation, and work life development.

Main principles of special education:

Students with special needs

• Inclusion into common groups

• Integrated groups

• Qualification training in special education follows the national core curriculum

• Individual adaptations are possible

• Each student has Individual Education Plan + Individual Study Plan