Rural Gifted Learners Experiences With a Critical, Place-Based Curriculum Summer Enrichment Program

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 4:20 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Special Delivery: Meeting Diverse Learner Needs in Rural Schools (Table 20)

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of eleven returning campers who engage in a critical, place-based humanities summer enrichment program focused on community viability in order to address opportunity gaps for rural, gifted learners (Callahan & Azano, 2019). Specifically, we centered a community vision that focuses on asset-based rural spaces, fostering capable leaders, generating sustainable infrastructures, and focusing on community sentiment to promote identity and citizenship. By analyzing the campers’ artifacts, alongside observations, this study suggests alternative learning environments that leverage place, identity, and community may help foster a sense of community viability which also works to close an opportunity gap for gifted, rural learners.

Authors

• Clint D. Whitten, Virginia Tech

• Amy Price Azano, Virginia Tech

• Hannah H. Scherer, Virginia Tech