Differentiating Mathematics for Gifted Children: A Professional Development Project for In-Service Teachers

Abstract

Gifted children should receive an education that is appropriate to their potential, but the question is whether this is possible without a great deal of teacher competence. This project aims to increase the professional competence of mathematics teachers in gifted education. They were provided with training on the appropriate strategies for gifted students. In this study the knowledge and views of the teachers about the giftedness and the information used in gifted education is investigated. In the training process, seminars were provided regarding the teaching strategies used in gifted education, challenging mathematical tasks to be used to reveal and develop potential, and the differentiation of teaching with the help of technology. The participants of the study were 25 middle/high school in-service mathematics teachers from 17 provinces throughout the country. Teachers learned the teaching strategies for the gifted, and they provided enrichment using challenging mathematical tasks and technological tools.