ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the assessment strategies that can be used to uncover and facilitate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning in students of high ability. Hence, identifying and nurturing the talents of students who are identified as high ability in STEM areas is an important educational and workforce objective. Because the development of expertise in a STEM area depends on building skills that are often specific to that domain, helping students begin to engage in experiences early on that facilitate the growth and development of those skills is important in nurturing students' performance. The issue of what classroom teachers can do to assess the classroom achievement of students who show talents in STEM areas can be informed by the literature on identification of students. Although beneficial for all students, portfolios are particularly appropriate for gifted students in that teachers can craft learning activities to target STEM domains to show only current achievement, but STEM aptitude.
