Volume 28 | Number 2 | November 2009 Newsletter of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children www.world-gifted.org The 18th Conference: A Message A Stellar Success from the President Taisir Subhi Yamin am honored to be in the position of President Iof the WCGTC and am eager to begin working with the members of the new Executive Committee towards increasing the opportunities that the World Council has to offer its members across the world. I have concluded three terms as a member of the Executive Committee. This experience has provided me with an outstanding opportunity to work with a large number of scholars and international institu- tions, and I have intentionally chosen to invest in this organization. United and reunited at the Opening Reception Gifted education is booming in different countries. It is a reflection of the growing interest in giftedness, ubsequent to the conclusion on August 7th, commendations and creativity and innovation, talent development, excel- Sreports of the conference have been received at Headquarters continu- lence in education, and expertise. Investment in ously. The essence of the consistent response is caught in remarks of the gifted education becomes a must for all nations, but following kind: such investment requires well-developed programs that concentrate on promoting productive thinking “Thanks for a great conference - best organized World Conference ever! skills, emphasize future problem solving, employ ef- CONGRATULATIONS…” fective differentiation processes, provide high-qual- “Everything was perfect.” ity provisions, administer different types of evalua- “This was my first World Conference for Gifted and Talented Children tion, and build self-confidence. and I hope to come again. Meanwhile, I will share the conference with my In order to achieve our ultimate goals, we need colleagues….Once again, thank you for the gracious and inviting way you highly qualified and competent teachers who are handled each item pertaining to the conference. It was much appreciated.” willing to serve gifted and talented children with “Just dropping a line to say thank you for a wonderful experience at high-quality programs that are designed to meet the the conference and for being patient with our application that has gone special needs of these children. To do so, we have to through ups and downs and was almost being cancelled.” invest more in educational technology. In the digital “This is a perfect moment for thanking you also for the unparalleled de- world, we are moving towards mobile teaching sign, structure, and management of the 18th World Conference.” and virtual learning environments. Investment in continued on page 3 continued on page 3 Page Message from the President continued The 18th Conference continued educational technology will enable us to improve the The many months of confer- quality of education, extend gifted programs, bridge ence preparations at Head- different cultures and civilizations, and foster creative quarters culminated in our productivity. having 30 boxes of prepared Gifted education is, indeed, the way of the future and conference products deliv- requires sufficient resources. It is our joint task to ered to Vancouver, where, on struggle to obtain the allocation of these means, both Sunday, a hand-picked group structural and financial. The WCGTC will facilitate of volunteers, including our and encourage the use of national and international Some registration volunteers (Front) Sarah Dietrich, top-level technicians, joined standards to develop, implement, foster, and evaluate Diane Minion, Kailey Ng (Back) Susan Dueck, Annette in to stuff the bags. Setting up different types of special provisions designed to meet Greene, Carrie Minion, Mikayla Greene the registration early Monday the different special needs of the gifted and talented. morning was simplified by As President, I will work with educational systems our having generated all the and will employ advanced international expertise to badge inserts and readied the facilitate building gifted programs around the world. badges in Winnipeg. On the We will work to enhance the Council’s efforts to front lines were my two office provide more pathways and horizons for research and assistants—Annette Greene practice. We will need to work hard to help influence and Morna Christian—pho- educational systems and public attitudes and beliefs tographer, Allan Appel, and about gifted education in order to reach our goal of chief technician, Ben Dueck. allocating more resources and programs for the gifted From the singing of the Ca- and talented. I strongly believe in the importance of Technicians: Sheldon Kehler, Mark Dueck, Sina nadian national anthem, “O gifted education. We are, certainly, part of a potential Shahandeh, and Ben Dueck (Chief Technician) Canada,” by eight-year-old support system for general education. Hannah McKinley Brandon, As our Conference comes to an end, I have the honor at the Opening Ceremony to and pleasure of thanking my friends and colleagues the speech delivered by her who have served the WCGTC for several years in ten-year-old sister, Shane, at their terms of office. My warmest thanks go to Den- the Closing Ceremony, the Mo Tsai for his contributions as a member of the participants of the WCGTC th Executive Committee and the President of the Coun- 18 Biennial Conference cil. Many thanks also go to Sandra Kaplan for her were treated to a first-class contribution. I would also like to express my grati- event at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver, tude to the members of the Headquarters Confer- Front-line Registration Managers: Annette Greene and British Columbia. ence Committee for their splendid commitment and Morna Christian professionalism in the different stages of this excep- The Opening Ceremony tional event, particularly, to Conference Chairperson, was replete with formality Cathrine Froese Klassen; Registration Chairperson, and fanfare. Greetings were Dr. Stephen Klassen; and Program Chairperson, Dr. brought by Geoff Meggs, Edna McMillan. Deputy Mayor of Vancouver, We greatly appreciate the University of Winnipeg and Dean Ken McCluskey of for hosting the Headquarters of the WCGTC and for The University of Winnipeg, providing financial support. Thanks also go to the who also received the Inter- International Centre for Innovation in Education national Creativity Award. (ICIE) for sponsoring the WCGTC journal, Gifted Edna McMillan was awarded Eight-year-old vocalist, Hannah McKinley Brandon, and Talented International (GTI). the Distinguished Service singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” Award for her many years of In my capacity as the new President of the WCGTC, devoted service to the WCGTC. Besides the young vocalist, other enter- I thank each one of you for your continuing support. tainers included twelve-year-old flautist, Zachary Kellogg (Washington I am honored to lead this international organization state), accompanied by his father, and world-class violinist, Rosemary Sie- and pledge to you that I will serve it with high moti- mens (Vancouver), accompanied by pianist Victoria Goman (Uzbekistan). vation, commitment, and responsibility.* To the surprise and amazement of the audience, Rosemary and Zachary *Abridged version of the speech delivered at the Closing improvised two selections, never having played together before. The Le-la- th Ceremony at the 18 Biennial World Conference in la Dancers from Vancouver Island, led by George Taylor, provided not only Vancouver a glimpse into the culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, but also a mes- Page sage revealing assessment and the identification of the gifted as he exposed their values, how non-verbal testing can serve as a reliable tool, particu- through larly as it can cross cultural and linguistic barriers. Dr. Lannie which the Kanevsky applied Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development gap between theory to differentiating learning experiences for gifted learners. and among Canadian artist and naturalist, Robert Bateman, advanced the cultures importance of exposing children to the natural world to improve was quickly their learning opportunities. These sessions provided the foun- bridged. dation for some The reception 380 presentations followed in covering all the the exhibit major themes in Flautist Zachary Kellogg and violinist Rosemary Siemens area, where gifted education. Pearson—our Platinum sponsor—and a host of exhibitors, Many participants among them many of our affiliates, were promoting their prod- took advantage ucts and benefits of membership. Jamnation, a group of instru- of the evening mentalists comprised primarily of UBC students, jazzed up the entertainment. On evening as old acquaintances were renewed and new ones were Wednesday night, made, while the Sheraton served a lavish array of hors d‘oeuvres two hundred at- represent- tendees cruised the ing four Vancouver harbour different Biennial Conference Chairperson, Cathrine Froese as the sun set over regions of Klassen the waters—an ex- Canada, perience that sup- from the plied nourishment west coast and relaxation for and the body and soul. prairies The gala dinner to the the next evening eastern The Le-La-La Dancers, with George Taylor (second from the right) offered exquisite French west-coast cuisine and Maritimes, from salmon and wild mushrooms to cassolette and a fastidious and clam chowder. and engaging The Conference, in a spacious, well-appointed venue, began presentation by a with significant pre-conference sessions, conducted by special- Dr. Den-Mo