Designing and Using Peer Nomination Forms

This article focuses on the interplay of four elements to be considered in designing and using peer nomination forms: purpose, characteristics of gifted and talented students, grade level, and item style. Screening, grouping for cooperative learning, discovering special abilities, and designing unique assignments are suggested as possible purposes. Student characteristics are discussed for a variety of orientations and special populations. Issues relative to grade level are introduced. Direct and disguised styles of item construction are explained. The article concludes with instructions for implementation and specific examples of peer nomination forms designed to accommodate a variety of purposes, student characteristics, grade levels, and styles.