Leadership Needs for Gifted Education in the 21st

Leadership Needs for Gifted Education in the 21st Century © 2011 by The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.

What is Leadership in Gifted Education? Attending to multiple realities Using power to enhance the growth of others Building learning communities Accepting and creating challenge 2

Categories of Leadership Advocacy Scholarship Research Program development Personnel preparation 3

Levels and Roles of Leadership Local State National 4 Teacher Coordinator University personnel Parent

So, based on the realities of leadership needs and the realities of educational environments, what must we know and be able to do? 5

Make Content-Based Modifications Align to standards by differentiating through: Acceleration Complexity Depth Challenge Creativity 6

Create Coherence in Differentiation Issues/Themes Dimension Concept Teaching Inquiry-Based Models Advanced Content Dimension Diagnostic- Prescriptive Choice of Advanced Materials Process-Product Dimension Higher-Level Thinking & Problem Solving Product Development (VanTassel-Baska, 1986) 7

Collaborate on Gifted Learner Resources Administrators 8

Networking Tips Serve on committees at the state level, be active in the state organization, take on leadership challenges (e.g., newsletter editor). Learn how the system you work in works. Advocate for gifted students individually. Be a spokesperson for parents of the gifted. Find a cadre of people who care about gifted issues as much as you do. 9

Relevant Organizations NAGC Subject areas AERA Other professional Societies Use what you know in other areas to help you make a contribution to gifted education! 10

Journals Gifted Child Quarterly Gifted Child Today Roeper Review Journal for the Education of the Gifted Journal of Advanced Academics State journals or newsletter Read for understanding, findings, and unsettled issues. 11

Share Point of View What message do you want to convey? Who is your audience? What evidence can you bring to bear? In what forms? Ask questions. 12

What Works in Gifted Education? Acceleration Grouping Inquiry Research-based curriculum materials Career development Personalized services 13

Being a Program Developer Design a program that is needed, based on data Pilot the program Use pilot data to improve the design Implement the program Evaluate its effectiveness 14

Being a Curriculum Developer Design a needed curriculum product Pilot it in one teacher’s classroom Collect data on student learning and teacher perceptions Revise, based on data and field test in multiple classrooms Implement the curriculum on a school-wide scale Evaluate its effectiveness for gifted student learning 15

Being a Facilitator of Learning Collect data on student aptitudes, interests, and perceived needs Design appropriate independent options Engage learners in the process of independent learning, using the guidelines that focus on goals, outcomes, allocation of time and resources, and assessment Evaluate the products of the independent learning experience 16