Despite a large increase in enrollments of students in online courses at the K-12 level, there is very little research on the use of differentiation in fully online (called "virtual") schools. This study asked virtual teachers from two different types of schools to discuss their differentiation practices, and compared differentiation practices of teachers across these schools. Nineteen focus groups consisting of 92 teachers were conducted. Data were analyzed using Tomlinson's differentiation framework. Results showed that the large majority of teacher comments about differentiation definitions, assessments, curriculum, grouping and strategies fell in the novice category, and that newer virtual school teachers may struggle in developing skills in differentiation in an online environment.
The need for a shared vision concerning exemplary curricula for academically advanced learners must be a priority in the field of education. With the advent of the Common Core State Standards adoption in many states, a new conversation has been ignited over meeting the needs of students with gifts and talents for whom the “standard” curriculum is not a good fit. The purpose for this article is to highlight the current need for high-quality curriculum, discuss how the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Curriculum Awards rubric has been updated to reflect the research in the field, and look at additional ways to use the NAGC Curriculum rubric as a tool to support the development of quality curriculum and to select and award exemplary curricula for addressing advanced academic needs of students with gifts and talents.
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