| Summary: | M.Ed. === A lack of optimal self-realization in the pursuit of a career does not only cause career frustration, but also implies a waste of human potential. For this reason vocational guidance at school should function in such a way that the particular needs of intellectually gifted pupils should be observed so that help and support can be given to contribute to the optimal attainment of their potential. The problems related to vocational guidance to the intellectually gifted are mainly due to the fact that these pupils are often able to choose from a large variety of professions due to their particular intellectual abilities, but that these potential do not necessarily correlate with their other personal possibilities. Seen from this point of view, the most important aim of this 'investigation' is to supply pedagogic guidelines based on an analysis and integration of the personal options and career preferences of the gifted in order to assist them in achieving more meaningful self-realization and to prevent the problem of non-optimal utilization of gifted human potential. The manifestation of intrinsic personal potential such as intelligence, ability, interest and personality was researched to determine how it operates within the development of a career image in the highly gifted. The results of the investigation indicate a correlation between different combinations of personal potential and specific career-orientated directions of study. Amore meaningful integration between personal potential and career preference is made possible with the result that the gifted can display ideals and aspirations congruent with their personal potential. Findings led to the following deductions: if the personal potential of the highly gifted is seen in totality there appears to be a combination of personal qualities related to career image development which manifest in clear career tendencies. From these findings one may be justified to assume that the highly gifted may be led to more meaningful self-realization if personal potential such as intelligence, ability, interest and personality are applied as a whole for identification purposes in terms of career recommendations. In addition to the guidelines laid down from the findings of this investigation it is recommended that individual career guidance should be given to the highly gifted in terms of the principles of the Discover system. This system can help the gifted to orientate their values in such a way that the basis for decisionmaking, which implies long-term events, may be founded on a rational basis. It will also help to highlight preferences for certain areas of work through which the attitude to, skills and interest in certain activities may become visible in highly gifted persons.
|
|---|
