4.4.11 Context Analysis on Attitudes Towards Gifted Education

Background: Giftedness is an outstanding learning potential that will most likely develop if a student at different developmental stages experiences appropriate learning opportunities based on his/her abilities, needs, and interests. Cultivation of positive attitudes towards gifted education is crucial to ensure that gifted students receive appropriate educational opportunities and provisions. At the presentation, the analysis of attitudes towards gifted education in Slovenian upper secondary schools will be discussed in the framework of three-year evaluation project PROGA of enrichment provisions for gifted students. Method: The sample included 912 students from four selective coeducational upper secondary schools, i.e. gymnasiums, their teachers (N = 74) and parents (N = 273). Participants filled-out self-report questionnaire about attitudes towards gifted education on a 5-point Likert scale; including some open questions to get a deeper insight into the context. Findings: The results showed that teachers and parents generally tend to have neutral to positive attitudes towards gifted education (Mt = 2.90, SDt = .25; and Mp = 2.83, SDp = .34, respectively). Likewise, students report about the absence of negative attitudes (Ms = 2.80, SDs = .32), although it seems from students reports that gifted students do not want to stand out from their peers. Furthermore, ANOVA showed that groups of participants (i.e. students, teachers and parents), differ statistically significant in their attitudes, F(2;1256) = 3.59, p = .03. Post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni’s correction applied revealed that teachers hold significantly higher positive attitudes compared to students (t(984) = -3.14, p = .002); however, the effect size was low. Discussion: The results will be reviewed from the perspective of the Slovenian gifted educational context. The focus will be on the development of appropriate teaching approaches and communication in schools in order to gain positive experiences that will contribute to the cultivation of positive attitudes towards gifted education. In the given framework, the vital role of highly competent teachers and mentors, who hold appropriate professional attitudes towards gifted education, will be highlighted.

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