This course is designed to expose students to current controversies within the field of gifted education. The readings are chosen because they are provocative in the hopes that we can stimulate some interesting discussions about philosophy and practice in gifted education. We will have many lively discussions and differences of opinion as we read some of the most thought provoking journal articles published in the past 5 years. This course provides students with an introduction to the field of Educational Research, and Action Research strategies and methods in particular. Students have the opportunity to identify, focus and investigate a local, school-based problem related to gifted education.
Participants conduct an action research study in their local school.
Culminating the study is the development of a grant proposal, or authoring a 10 - 15 page article for publication in a professional journal. The major goal for this course is to provide a forum for students to apply writing and research skills to a relevant issue or concern in gifted education.