Beliefs about educational acceleration: Students in inclusive classes conceptualize benefits, feelings, and barriers

ABSTRACT

For high-ability students to develop their full potential, they require evidence-based interventions tailored to their exceptional needs. Educational acceleration has proven effective with many high-ability students, but educators sometimes express concerns about social issues, and such concerns may block access to accelerative interventions. Despite these concerns, little is known about students' thoughts on placing high-ability students with older classmates. In this study, we used group concept mapping methodology to investigate students' beliefs about grade-based acceleration. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students in inclusive classes generated ideas about acceleration, and then sorted and rated a synthesized list of factors to consider when deciding about acceleration. Using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis, the authors identified five key concepts in the structured data: (a) better for the fast learner, (b) concerns of moving up, (c) benefits for others (d) potential barriers to acceptance, and (e) uncomfortable feelings. Practical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Educational acceleration
• gifted education
• group concept mapping
• high-ability students
• inclusive education
• students' perspectives

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (752-2014-2107).