1ST part - preschool period

On the international test on general knowledge (for high-schools), Serbia was on the place number 41 out of 57 countries. The results have shown that reproductive knowledge is good, while operational knowledge (scientific

knowledge) is very low. It is a fact that the most important period for perceiving abstraction and the initialization of operational thinking is a period between three and seven years of life, and it may be extracted to the age of twelve. In that period, concerning stimulation of this important part for thinking, children are little worked with or not at all.

Mensa is an organization which gathers people with high IQs (IQ is over 148) and the main target is researching intelligence and its employment for the good of all people in the community. Within Mensa, there is a SIG for the gifted called NTC. For years, it researches how to improve intellectual abilities. The author of this program, Ranko Rajovic PhD, is a long-term member of the four-member committee of the International Mensa for gifted children. He made a team of experts in the field of pedagogy, neurophysiology, defectology, psychology and genetics. Together, they made efficient and simple program which has an option of continuous assessment and evaluation. The advantage of this kind of concept is its application to preschool children (aged between 3 and 7), just as stimulation of the development of intellectual abilities of each child. Just the fact that human brain develops over 50% of its capacity up to the age of five should be a reason enough to start with the application of specialized programs as early as possible. It is the responsibility of the society, local community and each parent not to miss this extremely important period in life and to support the development of biological potentials of each child to its maximum.

The application of Mensa-NTC system of learning provides:

    * IQ of all the children in the program is risen;

    * Any kind of concentration disturbia or attention shortage is prevented; dyslexia that might appear later in school is prevented likewise;

    * Coordination of movements and motor function are developed;

    * The speed of thinking and making conclusions are developed (functional knowledge);

    * All the children are at advantage in this program and it is especially useful for detecting gifted children and for improving their talents;

    * Neuron's network is thicker which, if accompanied by specific exercises, enlarges brain capacity for processing information.

METHODOLOGY OF MENSA NTC SYSTEM OF LEARNING

    * The development of accommodation-stimulation of the development of eye muscles

          o Chosen games with balls

          o Games of skipping

    * The development of movements coordination and motor functions

          o Games of rotation

          o Games of skipping

          o Games of pulling through

          o Workshops for subtle motor functions

    * The development of speed of thinking and making conclusions

          o REPRODUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE

                + Learning of abstract symbols (flags, traffic signs.)/li>

    * FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE

          o Connecting abstract symbols- 1st level

          o Connecting abstract symbols and logic-2nd level

          o Method of combining abstract thought and music-3rd level

Results up to now

Pilot research was conducted in three kindergartens in Novi Sad and it has undoubtedly shown that every child who participated had a multiple advantage.

After a presentation within international Mensa, 8 European countries have accepted this program and they are already applying it. The Association of Teachers of Serbia has already included the part of this program into their obligatory activities for vocational training of our teachers. In Novi Sad, in pre-school institutions 'Radosno detinjstvo' (over 14000 registered

children) a longitudinal research is being conducted. It will follow children from the age of three to the end of elementary school. In the process of following, measuring and processing the results, many institutions are included, The Faculty of Philosophy, the department for Pedagogy, The Faculty for Teachers in Sombor and The Academy for Kindergarten Teachers in Vršac.

Team of experts:

1. MENSA

    * Ranko Rajović, MD

    * Uroš Petrović, senior associate

    * Ljubomir Kustudić, senior associate

    * Prof. Mojca Juriševič, psychologist (Ljubljana University, Slovenia)

    * Jitka Fortikova, Mensa Czech Republic

2. The Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, the department for Pedagogy

    * prof. Olivera Gajić

3. Medical Faculty in Novi Sad

    * prof. Aleksandar Krstić, pediatrician, genetic engineer

    * dr Slavica Dautović, pediatrician, endocrinologist

    * prof. Jela Mihaljev, neurologist

4. The Faculty for Teachers in Sombor

    * Prof. Mirče Berar, Vice Dean for Sciences

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* ACOMODATION - Watching monitors (TV, computer, video games) prevent normal development of eye adaptatation (eye reaction to the amount of light and movements in space). The consequence is that eyes easily become tired and lazy which is a serious problem for reading and consequently it is more difficult to learn and focus.