Identifying and educating advanced students with Jonathan Plucker (Ep 32)

Source:
https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-y6cxs-...

Math professor Anna Stokke speaks with Dr. Jonathan Plucker, a professor and director of the Education Policy Program at Johns Hopkins University, about advanced education, acceleration and academic streaming. Jonathan discusses the flaws in traditional methods of identifying advanced students and advocates for universal screening to ensure equitable access to advanced programs. They cover various interventions, including acceleration, and discuss the drawbacks of de-streaming or anti-acceleration policies. They also discuss equity concerns.
They talk about flexible ability grouping, the need to challenge stereotypes about advanced students, and more.  Jonathan emphasizes that education should meet the needs of every student, including students who excel academically, and he provides concrete advice for accomplishing that. A key takeaway from this episode is that offering advanced programs benefits all students and, ideally, every school should include advanced programming.  This episode is a must-listen for educators of any subject, parents and policymakers.
NOTE: The resource page contains a list of research articles mentioned in the episode: annastokke.com/ep-32-resources
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Introduction 
[00:03:42] Terminology: gifted or advanced? 
[00:07:58] Are labels a problem?
[00:10:54] Identifying advanced students
[00:21:13] Equity in advanced programs
[00:25:28] Meeting the needs of advanced students
[00:27:46] Effective interventions for advanced students
[00:31:29] Enrichment vs. acceleration
[00:34:59] Supporting learners beyond minimum competency
[00:38:42] The case of San Francisco Unified School District
[00:43:14] Problems with de-streaming and anti-acceleration programs
[00:48:16] Flexible ability grouping: A solution?
[00:53:18] Who benefits from flexible ability grouping?
[00:54:53] The impact of de-streaming on teachers and students
[00:58:42] What needs to change to support advanced students
 
RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES
Ep 11. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson, Part I https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d3bai-1...
Ep 12. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson, Part II https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-93gm5-1...
Ep 15. Modern relevance in the math curriculum with Brian Conrad https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gek66-1...
Ep 19. The Calculus Project with Adrian Mims https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-fkbjk-1...
Ep 25. Understanding math reform ideology with Tom Loveless https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-7ih4c-1...
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-32-tran...
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-32-reso...
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch itBlue Dot Sessions – No Squirrel Connection, Cornicob, BaltiPodington Bear – Camp
Website: www.annastokke.com