A Study on the Giftedness and Education Through Coelho's “The Way of The Archer”

Abstract

Gifted individuals show advanced development in one or more areas compared to their peers. While their social-emotional characteristics may progress simultaneously and harmoniously with their cognitive development, asynchronous and uneven development patterns can also be observed. Their potential may manifest itself in general or domain-specific talents, such as in general ability/intelligence, creativity, academic achievement, leadership traits, motivation, artistic or athletic skills. Definitions of giftedness are established upon these components. Both national and international literature contain conceptual ambiguities regarding the phenomenon of giftedness, and debates aimed at resolving these issues remain ongoing. These ambiguities create challenges that families and teachers living with gifted students. Furthermore, conceptual ambiguities make identification processes and understanding the gifted student in a holistic manner difficult, thereby complicating the preparation of appropriate educational curricula. In addition to empirical research conducted to understand gifted students and identify their needs, there are also analytical studies utilizing literary works or films to concretize this subject. Similarly, the current study examines Paulo Coelho’s literary work, The Archer’s Way. Within the scope of the document analysis method, the work was analyzed in the context of the relationship between the characteristics of gifted individuals and their educational needs. The obtained data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Presenting a learning journey through the sport of archery, the book offers recommendations that can be transferred to all learning processes. These suggestions exhibit parallels with the traits of gifted individuals and emphasize the importance of supporting holistic character development. The work contains both direct and indirect recommendations for structuring education based on the characteristics of gifted students. The themes established through the literary analysis in line with the research objective were examined under the headings of goal setting, personal competencies, integration, and flow. In line with the research findings, an educational approach is proposed that targets holistic development, where socio-emotional characteristics are taken into account along with educational arrangements appropriate to the learning profiles of gifted students.

Keywords

• Giftedness
• education of the gifted
• archery
• holistic development
• document analysis

Coelho’nun “Okçu’nun Yolu” Eseri Üzerinden Üstün Yetenekliler ve Eğitimine Dair Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Üstün yetenekli bireyler bir ya da birden fazla alanda akranlarına göre ileri gelişim gösterirler. Sosyal-duygusal özellikleri zihinsel gelişimleriyle eş zamanlı ve uyumlu biçimde ilerlediği gibi bu iki gelişim alanı arasında uyumsuzluklar da gözlemlenmektedir. Potansiyelleri genel yetenek/zekâ, yaratıcılık, akademik başarı, liderlik özellikleri, motivasyon, sanatsal beceriler ya da sportif yetenek gibi genel veya alana özgü yeteneklerde kendini gösterebilmektedir. Üstün yetenek tanımları da bu unsurların bütününden hareketle oluşturulmaktadır. Ulusal ve uluslararası alanyazın üstün yeteneklilik olgusu ile ilgili kavramsal belirsizlikler barındırmakta ve giderilmesine yönelik tartışmalar güncelliğini korumaktadır. Belirsizlikler üstün yetenekli öğrencilerle yaşayan aileler ve öğretmenler açısından çeşitli güçlükler doğurmaktadır. Kavramsal belirsizlikler tanılama süreçlerini ve üstün yetenekli öğrenciyi bütünlüklü biçimde anlamayı, dolayısıyla uygun eğitim içeriklerinin hazırlanmasını zorlaştırmaktadır. Üstün yetenekli öğrencileri anlamak ve ihtiyaçlarını ortaya koymak amacıyla yapılan ampirik araştırmaların yanı sıra bu konuyu somutlaştırmak amacıyla edebi eserler ya da filmler üzerinden yapılan inceleme çalışmalarına da rastlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada da benzer amaçla Paulo Coelho’nun Okçu’nun Yolu adlı eser incelenmiştir. Doküman incelemesi yöntemi kapsamında eser, üstün yetenekli bireylerin özellikleri ve eğitim gereksinimleri ilişkisi bağlamında incelenmiştir. Elde edilen veriler tümevarımsal içerik analizi yoluyla çözümlenmiştir. Okçuluk sporu ekseninde öğrenme yolculuğu sunan eserde tüm öğrenme süreçlerine transfer edilebilecek öneriler sunulmaktadır. Bu öneriler üstün yetenekli bireylerin özellikleri ile örtüşen benzerlikler göstermekte ve karakter gelişiminin tüm yönleriyle desteklenmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Eserde üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin özellikleri temelinde eğitimin yapılandırılmasına yönelik doğrudan ve dolaylı öneriler sunulmaktadır. İnceleme sonucunda oluşturulan temalar; hedef belirleme, kişisel yeterlikler, bütünleşme ve akış başlıkları altında ele alınmıştır. Araştırma bulguları doğrultusunda üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin öğrenme profillerine uygun eğitim düzenlemeleri ile birlikte sosyal-duygusal özelliklerinin de gözetildiği bütüncül gelişimi hedefleyen bir eğitim yaklaşımı önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Üstün yetenek
• üstün yeteneklilerin eğitimi
• okçuluk
• bütüncül gelişim
• doküman analizi

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