Parallel Session Proceedings »
4.7.3 Growing Researchers through National Professional Gifted Associations
The teaching/research nexus is crucial to the development and implementation of evidence-informed best practice. One aspect of research in the field of gifted and talented education has been a focus on developing models, approaches and practices that are appropriate for gifted and talented students such that professional learning programs can be effective in upskilling teachers. This is important because teachers who have undertaken professional learning about gifted and talented education have been identified in the literature as being vital to successful outcomes for gifted and talented students (Kitano, 2000; VanTassel-Baska, 2005). Gifted associations have been instrumental in many countries as providers of professional learning opportunities for their members. But professional learning is not a passive transmission of knowledge, but an active process of teachers engaging with the research literature in an ongoing way, applying new ideas to their own context and critically reflecting on outcomes. Teaching involves constant critical reflection on practice to ensure its effectiveness for diverse learners in specific contexts and areas of learning. It requires research-in-action and critical inquiry, in addition to ongoing assessment and analysis of students’ engagement, learning, progress and achievement. Teachers need to be actively researching their students, their context, their practice and interrogating the research literature. So, the question arises, to what extent are gifted associations involved with professional development of their members as researchers – not just as consumers of research, but also as generators of research? This research study, using a questionnaire, website and social media analysis directed to national gifted associations, seeks to establish the extent to which these associations develop and foster their members as researchers and disseminate gifted and talented education research to the community. This project will explore the intentional and aspirational values and activities relating to research in the field of gifted and talented education that national professional associations embrace and promote. It is hoped that a renewed focus on research as a key purpose and function of the national professional associations, in support of both their members and the field, will ensue as a result of this study.