Online database searches in gifted student independent study: Investigating the limits

Knowledge in almost every field is available at revolutionary speed and precision through computer databases. Many databases offer resources that are particularly well suited to gifted students. Like gifted thinking, database searches are driven by questions, are highly focused or broadly interdisciplinary, and often probe the relationship of concepts. Database searching in a variety of educational settings is reviewed here. As yet there have been few projects that introduce this powerful technology to gifted students, and none that have introduced this process for gifted students at the elementary level. An independent study project was designed for gifted elementary students that successful included online bibliographic database searches in the student research process. This project is discussed in relation to student independent study situated in meaningful and supportive contexts.