Full-time Schooling for Gifted Students in Turkey: What Teachers and Experts Say about This?

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating suggestions provided by gifted education teachers and experts about full-time schooling for gifted students. In this study qualitative survey method was used and data was collected by an open-ended survey and semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed by descriptive analysis including coding and categorizing. Using purposive sampling 341 teachers and 3 experts were selected for this study. The findings revealed that the experts suggested disciplinary and theme-oriented curriculum while the teachers suggested flexible and mixed-type curriculums. The experts and teachers suggested different ideas for outcome of the curriculum of the school, life skills and thinking skills component of the curriculum, features of classroom environment, physical conditions and technical equipment, and evaluation of learning in a full-time gifted school. The findings have merit to represent the general picture for starting a new full-time gifted school and contribute to the literature, authorities and families about necessity of this reform.