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2.2.7 Building Confidence in Regional Pre-Service Teachers for Teaching Gifted Students
This presentation examines the perceptions of 48 final year preservice teachers (PSTs) in a regional university in Australia who were surveyed to determine their confidence in relation to teaching students with diverse learning needs. Findings suggest that the majority felt their degree had prepared them quite effectively to teach students with learning difficulties but not gifted students. As such, they were more confident that they had the knowledge and skills required to appropriately meet the needs of students with learning difficulties than those of gifted students. The exception was PSTs who had completed an elective in gifted education; they were more confident in relation to both student groups.
Author(s):
Margaret Plunkett
margaret.plunkett@federation.edu.au
Federation University Australia
Australia
Associate Professor Margaret Plunkett works in the School of Education at Federation University, Australia. Margaret has developed and taught courses in gifted education for which she has won a number of teaching awards including the Pearson/ATEA Teacher Educator of the Year (2012) and an Office of Learning and Teaching Citation (2014). Her main research interests include professional learning for teachers, engagement of gifted students and curriculum innovation. Margaret is an elected Australian delegate on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, and Associate Editor of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education.
Wendy Holcombe*
w.holcombe@federation.edu.au
Federation University, Australia
Australia
Wendy Holcombe is a lecturer in the School of Education at Federation University, Australia, where she teaches both gifted education and a range of courses focusing on diversity and inclusion. She is currently completing her PhD in the area of twice exceptionality, an area in which she has both a personal and professional interest. Wendy has worked as an Autism Coach and has published and presented widely on this topic.
