DT/PI is discussed in the good book "Developing Math Talent" by Susan Assouline and Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik. link to article
Susan Assouline is co-author of several invaluable books, including
A Nation Deceived and
Iowa Acceleration Scale.
By titling his article to question whether individualized education may be "
A Faustian Bargain?", Durden may be playing devil's advocate?
(pun intended) And then there was a change in 2013. There are now two closely related pedagogies -- adaptive learning and competency-based learning -- that are embraced by a growing number in higher education as a viable component of educational reform.
Everything old is new again.
As to the societal changes which may be allowing the broader acceptance of individualized education at this point in time, my corner of the world offers the following...
- Technology, already mentioned, has allowed an explosion of uses in many directions, including the empowerment of autodidacts. Classroom teachers were once seen largely as the exclusive possessors and disseminators of knowledge, they are now considered one option for learning and education.
- Technology has given rise to online support groups and forums which have allowed small, formerly isolated pockets of interest in individualized education to grow, by bonding with others in remote locations whom they may not have otherwise become acquainted with.
- Increases in technology have facilitated international communications, reducing the severing of ties and leaving traditions behind when immigrating. Families may increasingly retain customs, bringing a rich diversity and individualized experience to what was formerly assimilation into "the melting pot".
- Baby boomers, raised largely as cookie-cutter individuals, have had time to reflect on their own educations. A proliferation of tutors and learning centers, summer camps and workshops, museum sleep-over parties, college events geared for kids, workbooks, computer based educational games and edutainment, are among their contributions to society offered to the current generation of students. These have furthered individualizing learning and personal enrichment.
- There are new careers for which today's students are preparing, and an awareness of further challenges which may be faced by future generations (examples: water quality, food supply, power), providing an impetus for the creation of additional new career fields and specialties which may require varied educations and a strong sense of scientific inquiry.
- There is a belief that public education is being "dumbed down" in the USA, while students in other countries are showing greater gains in education.
- Thanks to extensive research, we have a deeper understanding of the negative neurological and behavioral impacts upon an individual when they are required to "tread water" year after year in school... not allowed to learn at an appropriate pace: facing challenge, stretching, developing resilience and a growth mindset.
With these changes helping to set the stage to welcome individualized education, the time may also be ripe to begin calling "gifted ed" by the old term
Diagnostic Testing / Prescriptive Instruction (DT/PI), as this phrase foregoes elitism and exclusivity, while addressing student's educational needs. DTPI could potentially benefit both ends of the spectrum and the broad swath of children often referred to as the middle, easing the use of labels (gifted/2e/LD/middle).
Thanks for posting another interesting and thought-provoking article.
