Tracy Riley’s scientific contributions

This article outlines the use of Gagne’s (2008) Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT) as applied to Tongan secondary school students in New Zealand. Two case studies of Tongan young women are shared with a particular emphasis on the influence of catalysts, the chance factor, and developmental processes upon the development of their gifts to talents. The article explains the Tongan way, a conceptual map for developing better understandings of Tongan gifted and talented students in New Zealand. The article concludes that the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent is a framework teachers can use to explore giftedness with Pasifika families, communities, and students to assist in better understanding their special abilities, qualities, and needs.

Between 2006 and 2008 the Ministry of Education funded the evaluation of three Talent Development Initiatives for gifted and talented students. The methodology employed was one of participatory action research, a process of evaluation that enables learning by doing, as researchers and practitioners work alongside one another. Through the process of evaluating the three programmes, the researchers were also able to reflect on how and what formative feedback effects the development, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation of provisions for gifted and talented students. Based upon notes from team meetings, ongoing communications, and focus group discussions, the researchers concluded that an action research approach, despite some tensions, is useful and instrumental in the ongoing development of provisions for gifted and talented students.