[Cancelled] CPD interactive lecture: Giftedness at UM - Shining a light on bright students

1x 4-hour workshop on-campus at EDLAB, 13.00-17.00

Description
Giftedness is not merely about being an ‘Einstein’ and having an IQ score >130. Among students as well as among teachers, confusion exists about giftedness. There is no clear definition, while there are many assumptions about giftedness, like the idea that a student should only achieve high grades and never get stuck at university. In fact, giftedness is not only mental acuity or cognitive ability, but it is a set of characteristics, including also sensitivity, doubt and setting (too) ambitious bars. Although gifted students mention the same problems as their peer students, an extra layer of complexity is added because of these characteristics, and this can negatively influence their personal well-being and academic performance.

Understanding these layers by themselves and by the people in their environment, like tutors/teachers/mentors, will support gifted students in developing and using their talents and teach them how to thrive in (academic) life.

This interactive training/workshop has two parts:

• In the first part, we will explore the prejudices and pitfalls of giftedness together. We will ‘reframe’ concepts about giftedness and investigate why it is important that giftedness is recognized.
• In the second part, we will discuss ways in which gifted students can be supported regarding different pitfalls they may encounter, and we will dive into some helpful concepts and tools which can be used in coaching these students. Furthermore, the overlap of characteristics can be seen in giftedness on the one hand and several different behavioural and emotional disorders on the other hand, like AD(H)D, autism and anxiety-related disorders. In this part, we also will shine a bit more light on this topic.

Intended learning outcomes

In participating in this CPD activity, you will:

• have an alternative framework regarding stereotypical thinking about giftedness
• have insight into the different struggles and associated underlying processes that gifted people may encounter
• understand which aspects may support gifted students and how you as a mentor/tutor/teacher etc. can be of value in the guidance of these students.

About the trainer

Anke Smeenk is a student adviser at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University and founder of ‘Giftedness UM- Shining a light on bright students’. She studied medicine at Radboud University in Nijmegen, followed by the general practitioner programme in Maastricht. As a student adviser, Anke met students who were struggling with feelings of being different because of their giftedness. That’s why she is attending the specialised Radboud International Training on High Ability, to become an ECHA-qualified practitioner in the field of giftedness. Her intended goals are to increase knowledge in this area and share her insights with UM students and employees.