Meeting the Needs of Gifted and Motivated Students Deborah Johnston Curriculum Process ELS 703 March, 2010

Gifted and advanced students needed to be challenged – Bored and tried of busy work Students didnt want to be singled out Desired to be with others of the same academic level Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs are both rigorous programs to fulfill these needs -- and provide an opportunity to earn college credit Question? Is one better than the other?

History AP – initially developed to provide students with an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school IB – Started in Geneva, Switzerland, 1968, for children of diplomats and military that moved frequently – goal was to standardize a curriculum for international students NOW – It is a college prep program for students to earn college credit while sill in high school like that of AP but with a world perspective. IB

AP – Rigorous academic coursework in major subject fields with course content at college level IB – Three programs – The Primary Years The Middle Years The Diploma Programme IB - Challenging comprehensive two-year curriculum, rather than a one year course of study, of international education. It offers both depth and breadth of advanced content. IB

AP and IB– Benefits Improve college admissions Save tuition costs More time to pursue other opportunities Graduate college in a shorter time period Better Prepared for the rigors of college AP – Can take one year course or several courses Can take exams w/o taking courses IB Diploma – select courses from 6 disciplines revolving around a core course Theory of Knowledge IB

Students must choose one subject from each of the groups – ensuring the breadth of experience.

IB – Successful completion of the program earns students a diploma that is recognized for university admission throughout the world and for course credit and placement in many leading colleges and universities. If not, a certificate is awarded. AP and IB – Exams are the ultimate goal –teach to the exam AP – Content – Driven guided by covering a large amount of material The core is not the curriculum but the exams

AP – Instruction – mostly lecture – due to time AP – Teachers feel leaning equates with exposure to content, not with making meaning out of in- depth consideration of ideas AP- Courses – lack depth of learning, they are a mile wide and an inch deep IB- More flexible, more time. Less fact based and more thinking skills-focused.

IB – includes a variety of instruction AP – Instruction – mostly lecture due to time constraints IB – Focus on meaning making not memorization of facts

Preferred instructional techniques that involved hands-on, discussions, debate and more varied methods. Pleased with the quality of the challenge, unhappy with the amount of work too heavy Felt rushed and overwhelmed-due to the hurry to cover the content before exams

Even though they have to make sacrifices to participate, still believe it was worth it Some students dropped out…said the curriculum and instruction was rigid and did not allow for multiple pathways to learning. Program is inflexible and limiting

Advanced Placement – meets the needs of students that want a rigorous course of study but only want to take one or two courses of special interest or for college credit. International Baccalaureate – meets the needs of students that want a comprehensive program that encourages critical thinking through the study of a wide range of subject in the traditional academic disciplines while encouraging an international perspective.

The inclusion of both these programs in a school would offer students more choice and provide the opportunity to meet the needs of more students and their learning styles. Both the College Board and The International Baccalaureate Organization provide training, curriculum guidelines, materials and support services so schools can be successful.

Thank You!