I see a big divide in education. I’ve felt it at conferences. The entire field of education is taking off. Making, building, dreaming, designing. There is one area that is missing out. Gifted education. A field that saved me as a child and became my passion in my early teaching career. The minute I started studying gifted ed, I knew that the differentiation, the social and emotional learning, the creativity… it was about REAL learning… the kind that we can create space for in schools where challenge happens at all levels. And I’ve also always known that technology is a key tool in really being successful with differentiation.
But I also knew this field is missing something. Technology. Innovation. So how is it that, a field that should be invigorated with tools that can enhance differentiation, extension, depth of learning, authentic projects, connections, collaboration, and creativity, is not open to technology in the way other fields are. How is it that the field that NEEDS innovation, seems to have the door closed to it?
Now, the Personalized Learning movement is latching on to theories that can fuel gifted ed’s fire. Helping each kid grow WHERE they are at. Meeting them, guiding them, and supporting them. But, gifted ed often isn’t at that table. They’re missing the talk on Maker Spaces, Backward Design, Authentic Inquiry Based Learning, Projects, Being a Connected Educator.
And the field is missing out. And it makes me feel like that kid who was sent to the end of the hall for “creative time” each week. We don’t need a separate classroom anymore, we need to meet kids needs by doing learning right in ALL classrooms. Until there is a collaboration among us, that conversation isn’t going to happen. Maybe it’s time we open doors and join together at the educational table. Integrate. Raise the ceiling, or better yet, remove the ceiling, join hands and see what happens. We all want what’s best for ALL kids, and that means, for this special population with unique needs, we need to catch up and open the door to innovation, before it’s too late.
The kids? They are waiting for us.