Adaptive learning and personalization have long been of great interest to learning designers and educators, and recent technological advances that have opened up a range of new possibilities for adaptivity. However, we lack clear definitions of the terms adaptivity and personalization, and the theoretical and empirical soundness of implementations…

Despite the fact that both intercultural education and differentiated instruction are based on the premises of inclusion, equality, and equity, most research and publications have focused on one in isolation of the other. Scholars from each tradition often use the same argumentation, propose similar strategies and reach similar conclusions.…

In this paper, I present a design case of the problem-identification process prior to the initiation of a Networked Improvement Community (NIC). A NIC is a type of research-practice partnership (RPP) that brings together researchers and practitioners to tackle complex problems of practice, and in doing so, proposes a social reorganization of the…

Among public school teachers, parents, and all adults alike, at least eight in 10 recognize that students vary in how they learn, say schools should address learner variability, and favor tailored instruction--an approach designed to address learner variability--over conventional whole group instruction. Yet nine in 10 teachers, about eight in 10…

This article reports on an empirical, social-anthropological study of inclusion/exclusion in Danish public school education. The study sheds light on the downside of a neoliberal education policy that emphasises achievement. In spite of the best intentions of Danish education policy that inclusion and learning achievement should be two equal…

The need for a shared vision concerning exemplary curricula for academically advanced learners must be a priority in the field of education. With the advent of the Common Core State Standards adoption in many states, a new conversation has been ignited over meeting the needs of students with gifts and talents for whom the "standard"…

The authors propose a pedagogy that considers a historical individual in all their reality, an education responsive to the situation of each student in the uniqueness of their existence. The educational action is always an ethical response to the demand of the other. Implies that I have acquired an obligation, a moral dependence which I cannot…

Writing is a demanding, multidimensional process that is, cognitively and socially, highly complex. Success in writing is vital to success in education and in the workforce. Writing is increasingly used to demonstrate learning through schooling and has the potential to contribute toward understanding and learning in the content areas. The project…

The diversity of students' achievement levels within classrooms has made it essential for teachers to adapt their lessons to the varying educational needs of their students ('differentiation'). However, the term differentiation has been interpreted in diverse ways and there is a need to specify what effective differentiation entails. Previous…

The Texas Education Agency's (TEA) approved instrument for evaluating teachers, the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS), was the primary instrument used by 86 percent of local education agencies (LEAs) in the state and has been in place since 1997. In acknowledging the vital roles teachers play in student achievement, and based on…

Mentoring is considered among the most effective pedagogical measures, yet it is rarely used in gifted education. One of the main reasons for this neglect seems to be the lack of a thorough analysis of its conceptual foundations from the point of view of giftedness research. This contribution starts with a discussion of conceptual and definitional…

This illustrative case explicates how one teacher supports student critical thinking by personalizing instruction during Morning Meeting. Sought after learning outcomes outlined in Common Core Standards are met as he purposefully anchors learning in student contributions. Through classroom discourse analysis we show how this teacher decided in the…

This paper presents the annual activities of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) during 2008-2009. SSAT's activities this year have reflected its commitment to the priorities of the Government's Children's Plan. Its active and expert support of specialist schools, academies and trust schools continued to develop and enrich the…

This article describes a seven-step process for designing written intervention plans that help teachers and families bridge the gap between the goals targeted on the IEP (individualized education program) as well as intervention strategies and data collection in the general education classroom. The seven steps to intervention planning are to: (1)…

Many students identified as having moderate and severe disabilities (MSD) benefit from a curriculum that includes instruction on the functional skills that they will need to successfully transition to adulthood. In particular, this includes students with cognitive disabilities who are most likely to qualify in the 1% who are eligible for the…