Do Gifted Students View and Use Mental Models Differently from Others?

Abstract

There is now a substantial body of research into learners mental models of abstract scientific concepts. This research mostly confirms the obvious; that many learners struggle to understand abstract mental models in the way scientists or science teachers do. There is, however, a paucity of research into how gifted and talented science students view and use mental models in science. This paper explores this issue by examining mental models of chemical bonding for three highly gifted science students; one a senior secondary school student, a second an undergraduate, and third a PhD candidate also near completion. As might be expected, these highly gifted students held sophisticated mental models for all types of chemical bonding. Additionally, it seems they understood the limitations, purpose, and use of mental models in a similar way to that of scientists. This work provides insights into how the gifted conceptualize and use mental models, and provides insights into how teachers might move less gifted student towards a more sophisticated view of mental models in chemistry