BE COOL! a digital learning environment to challenge and socially include gifted learners

Abstract

This paper describes the development of the BE COOL! learning environment that gives all children, gifted and non-gifted, the opportunity to learn at a level matching their specific needs and abilities within the social context of regular education. BE COOL! uses the ability-adjusted jigsaw method, in which children of varying ability levels work together on a design for which they acquire knowledge by working on tailored assignments in groups with children with the same ability level. This differentiation method unites elements of learning by design, learning together, and learning by inquiry. In this article, we first present the conceptual foundations underlying BE COOL! Next, we describe the learning environment and its components as incorporated in a seven-week science lesson series in which fourth to sixth graders must design a liveable house on the moon for a family of four. Then, we describe our design process, in which research and development alternated and we end with a brief presentation of the learning environment's added value for educational practice.

Using Game Mechanics in Professional Training of Future Teachers Working with Gifted Children

“…Some scientists, in particular, T.H.S. Eysink, A.M. van Dijk, T. de Jong, conduct studies that substantiate the need for gamification when teaching gifted children (Eysink et al, 2020). The authors describe the project of organizing the educational environment "BE COOL!…”

Potentiale und Barrieren beim Einsatz digitaler Medien im inklusiven naturwissenschaftlichen Sachunterricht – Ergebnisse eines systematischen Reviews

“…Einzelne Beiträge zeigen aber auch Möglichkeiten auf, wie sich stärker modifizierte (N = 1) oder völlig neugestaltete (N = 2) Aufgabenformate schaffen lassen. Ein Beispiel ist die digitale Lernumgebung BE COOL!, bei der die Schülerinnen und Schüler im digitalen Raum forschend aktiv werden und dabei neue Kooperations-und Kommunikationsformate erproben können(Eysink et al 2020). Ein weiteres Beispiel ist der Einsatz von Digitalkameras durch die Kinder, um Aspekte von "Naturwissenschaften" in ihrer Lebenswelt zu erfassen und kommentiert, digital zu teilen (Martinez-Álvarez 2017).…”

Learning together in mixed-ability elementary classrooms

“…Both lesson series included seven lessons of two hours and were embedded in the BE COOL! learning environment (Eysink, van Dijk, & de Jong, 2014). See Figure 5.1 for an overview of the lesson series for both conditions.…”