March was a very busy month and I am now playing catch up and blogging about the experiences.
It was a great thrill to be invited to be the guest for #gtchat on Twitter on 1 March 2014. The topic was the use of De Bono’s Six Action Shoes as applied to planning gifted programs and in particular programs suitable for Twice-Exceptional children.
I enjoyed the experience very much. The moderator #gtchat, of Lisa Conrad, provided me with the questions in advance so that I could prepare my answers and have them ready to post during the session. I also provided links which Lisa posted throughout the chat.
Here are the Q & A posts that we pre-planned
Hi! Jo Freitag from Gifted Resources & Sprite’s Site blog Victoria Australia here at 11.00am Saturday for #gtchat
Hi everyone! Today we are going to rummage through Sprite’s shoes especially her De Bono 6 Action shoes collection #gtchat
Q1) Who is Sprite and how is she involved with De Bono’s shoes? #gtchat
A1) Sprite is my 2E character exceptionally gifted with an unspecified learning difference/disability who illustrates Feetspeak. #gtchat
A1) She is always shown with an injured ankle to show that not all the shoes (plans) will fit comfortably on both feet #gtchat
Q2) What are De Bono’s 6 Action Shoes? #gtchat
A2) Most people know Edward De Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats program about ways to think about a situation or problem #gtchat
A2) Edward De Bono’s 6 Action Shoes is a book about ways to approach planning courses of action #gtchat
A2) Up there for thinking, down there for dancing, walking etc – taking action #gtchat
Q3) What do each of the De Bono shoes represent? #gtchat
A3) Blue Formal Shoes = plan following routines and formal procedures; Grey sneakers = plan based on investigation #gtchat
A3) Brown Brogues = plan doing what is most practical and sensible; Orange gumboots = plan to cover emergency action #gtchat
A3) Pink Slippers = plan to act in caring compassionate manner; Purple riding boots = plan enacted by leadership or authority. #gtchat
Q4) How do you use these De Bono 6 Action Shoes plans? #gtchat
A4) I use the De Bono shoes as part of my Feetspeak 2E Shoes Program about planning suitable provisions for gifted and 2E students #gtchat
Gifted Programs Planned Using De Bono’s 6 Action Shoes as a Planning Tool http://goo.gl/vkKfvT
A4) Blue Formal Shoe Plans = fast paced accelerated above grade programs for highly motivated high achieving students #gtchat
Sprite’s Blue Formal Shoes http://goo.gl/OmokYK
A4) Grey Sneakers Plans= research investigations project/passion/problem based learning #geniushour #makerspaces #gtchat
Sprite’s Grey Sneakers http://goo.gl/kgQnZU
A4) Brown Brogues Plans = IEP or most suitable option for student – full or subject acceleration extension groups etc. whatever is needed #gtchat
Sprite’s Brown Brogues http://goo.gl/tLpXnT
A4) Orange Gumboots Plans = stop gap measures such as acting as teacher’s assistant #gtchat
Sprite’s Orange Gumboots http://goo.gl/KmYvfx
A4) Pink Slippers Plans = programs focussed on social/emotional needs coping strategies pastoral care etc #gtchat
Sprite’s Pink Slippers http://goo.gl/E7l1C4
A4) Purple Riding Boots Plans = I’ve used it to mean leadership training biographical studies & mentors could include creativity #gtchat
Sprite’s Purple Riding Boots http://goo.gl/RnIGXB
Q5) Do all the plans work well for gifted and 2E students? #gtchat
A5) All the plans have the potential to work well for gifted students but some do not fit 2E #gtchat
A5) I road tested them using Gagne’s DMGT model natural giftedness to fully developed competence/talent #gtchat
Building Gifts into Talents: Overview of the DMGT (pdf) http://goo.gl/trQ9Db
Q6) Are there any other shoe plans apart from De Bono Action shoes in Feetspeak 2E shoes? #gtchat
A6) Yes, More shoes: Bare feet = Not having a plan; Sparkly sandals = appearance of having a plan but not really having one #gtchat
Sprite’s More shoes http://goo.gl/zW3z6v
A6) The Plaster cast = ideal provisions for the Learning Differences if student is eligible & funding is available #gtchat
Sprite’s Plaster cast http://goo.gl/7yBCxq
A6) The One size fits all paper shoe cover system = claim to be giving gifted program with differentiation #gtchat
Sprite’s One Size Shoe Cover System http://goo.gl/jozdEo
Q7) What inspired you to create Sprite’s Site? #gtchat
A7) Feetspeak grew from newsletter note re problem buying suitable shoes after I injured my ankle being like 2E students problems #gtchat
A7) 2E students need provisions for both their giftedness and their difficulties #gtchat
A7) Sprite was designed to illustrate Feetspeak but then developed a life of her own and needed a blog to tell the stories #gtchat
A7) I already had a more serious Gifted Resources blog but Sprite’s Site allows more freedom for whimsy and creativity #gtchat
Gifted Resources blog https://giftedresources.wordpress.com/
Q8) Sprite has many friends to guide her on life’s journey. What resources did you find helpful when raising a family
A8) Parent support groups, online email groups, books, websites, conferences, guest speakers were all helpful #gtchat
A8 Psychologist Lesley Sword was the foundation stone for me #gtchat
http://www.giftedservices.com.au/handouts/index.html
A8) Hoagies website was/is always a great source of information #gtchat
Hoagies http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
Q9 What people and works provided the basis for Feetspeak 2E shoes? #gtchat
A9 Edward De Bono, Prof Francoys Gagne, Dr Linda Silverman, 2E newsletter, Prof Miraca Gross, Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities #gtchat
Q9 Susan Baum, Alexandra Golon, Iowa Acceleration Scales, Lee Singer, Lesley Sword and of course Stephanie Tolan #gtchat
http://www.giftedresources.org/gr/feetspeakforweb01.htm
Q10) What other topics are covered on Sprite’s Site? #gtchat
A10) The Tweet family of Twitter birds consult the Psych-Owl-Ogist about giftedness and social/emotional issues #gtchat
The Psych-Owl-Ogist http://spritessite.wordpress.com/tag/psych-owl-ogist/
A10) The Tweet family are using Nest Ed and discuss homeschooling their gifted tweetlets #gtchat
Nest Ed http://spritessite.wordpress.com/tag/nest-ed/
A10) Sprite’s companions Dabrowski Dogs represent Intellectual, Emotional, Sensual, Psycho Motor, Imaginational overexcitabilities #gtchat
Dabrowski Dogs http://spritessite.wordpress.com/tag/dabrowski-dogs/
A10) The Black Dogs relate to causes of depression in gifted people #gtchat
Black Dogs http://spritessite.wordpress.com/tag/black-dogs/
A10) The Memory Elephant illustrates memory and the Visual Spatial Learners way of thinking #gtchat
Memory Elephant http://spritessite.wordpress.com/tag/memory-elephant/
A10) And @gtchatmod favourite Columbus Cheetah advocates for acceleration and busts myths about giftedness #gtchat
Columbus Cheetah Myth Buster
http://www.giftedresources.org/gr/columbuscheetah.htm
The Storify transcript of the chat session can be read at http://goo.gl/58T7du
The summary post on the TAGT blog can be read at http://globalgtchatpoweredbytagt.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/de-bonos-action-plans-with-special-guest-jo-frietag/
Gifted Resources Blog has been nominated in the Australian Writers’ Centre Best Australian Blogs 2014 Competition http://www.writerscentre.com.au/community/best-australian-blogs-comp/
Gifted Resources 