Gifted education is tricky and many teachers don’t
know how to deal with such students. It isn’t often cost effective to implement
programs in schools that may host a single or a few gifted children. Little and
Housand (2011) discuss the ability to use online education to facilitate
learning through multiple school systems in order to raise professional
teaching standards and help such students in their precocious development.
In higher education technology lags behind other
industries. The reasons are many but often tradition, skill level, and
perception are important considerations. With proper technology professional
development in the educational fields has new opportunities. More important, it
can help teachers understand their rare students even when such skills are not
currently available. There are a few tips when trying to consider the potential
success of such programs.
Coherence:
The training should match both the goals of the organization, student needs,
and teacher needs. The purpose of the training programs should be readily
apparent and fit within the national context of gifted learning education.
Acknowledging
Beliefs and Practices: Teachers will need to find
relevance with their daily practice and an opportunity to reflect on their beliefs.
They need to relate the information to their own work environments.
Active
Engagement and Collaboration: Working with other
teachers on professional learning and actively staying engaged with course
materials is important.
Sustained
Attention: Single shot education with no follow-up will not
likely be remembered. Ensure that attention is supported over time to help in
the retaining of information.
Support
from School Administration: School administrators will need to
encourage professional development of teachers who work with gifted students. Time and resources should be allocated
appropriately.
Ensuring
Quality: Quality professional development is necessary for
successful programs. Quality measurements, relevancy, and higher care are
needed to make such programs work well.
The paper highlights the concept that gifted
students are relatively rare in the educational market despite a general
understanding in the industry. Few teachers actually deal with such students
and many schools do not have the resources or support to foster the highest
levels of development. Cost can be prohibitive. By helping teachers connect for
training from many districts a pool of teachers that have gifted students can work
together, lower costs, and provide sound education to this unique population.
Little, C. & Housand, B. (2011). Avenues to professional
learning online: technology tips and tolls for professional development in
gifted education. Gifted Child Today, 34
(4).
