The Extent of Special Education Teachers' Awareness of Thinking Patterns among Talented Students in Jordan

Abstract

The study aims at identifying the extent of special education teachers' awareness of thinking patterns among talented students in Jordan. The study sample consists of (100) teachers (male and female) who obtained special education certificates from Jordan. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher has developed a scale for thinking patterns for talented students. The results of the study show that the level of awareness of special education teachers of the thinking patterns among gifted students is moderate with a mean of (2.09) and a standard deviation of (0.209). The results also indicate that there are no statistically significant differences at the level of (a=0.05) due to gender variable where “K” is (1.892) with statistical significance (0.063).  Moreover, the results show that there are no statistically significant differences due to years of  experiences  on the awareness of special education teachers with the thinking patterns of talented students in Jordan where “F” reaches (0.392) with statistical significance. In light of the results of the study, the study recommends designing programs to raise the awareness of the special education teachers of thinking patterns of talented students and refining them to serve talented students. Prepare pre/service and in/service programs for gifted students in terms of behavioral characteristics and patterns of thinking to learn how to recommend the student and professor of students’ abilities correctly. Also, the study recommends raising the awareness of responsible authorities in the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Council for the disabled that this category needs support through knowing their thinking patterns. In addition, providing the necessary support services and increasing the attention on the gifted group, not only in the gifted schools, but also in the regular schools in order to have the opportunity in the resource room to develop their talents according to their patterns of thinking.

Key words: Awareness - Thinking patterns - Talented