Margaret Plunkett

Tales from the Pond

Student Perceptions of Ability Grouped and Mainstream Learning Environments

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This book presents an alternative interpretation of a
practice that tends to attract a great deal of
negative press that of ability grouping. Often
viewed as elitist and a means of reinforcing the
status quo in unequal societies, the educational
practice of grouping on the basis of ability has
engendered distrust in egalitarian Australia for many
years. This study challenges this notion through
examination of a disadvantaged rural secondary
school s attempt to create a learning environment
that is appropriate for highly able students, while
not disadvantaging mainstream students not involved
in the program. The metaphor of a pond is woven
through the study, representing Marsh's Big Fish
Little Pond Effect, which is critiqued. Through a
mixed methodological approach, the views of students
in both the grouped and mainstream settings were
examined to determine their levels of satisfaction
with their educational experience. The study found
that although the ability based setting provided a
suitably nurturing environment for the able students,
it was not viewed as desirable by mainstream
nonmembers, suggesting that appropriate provision may
require different educational responses.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783639130973
• ISBN-10: 3639130979
• Artikelnr.: 26050147

Autorenporträt

Dr Margaret Plunkett is a lecturer in education at Monash
University in Australia, specializing in gifted education. She is
Australian delegate for the World Council for Gifted Children. Her
research interests focus on appropriate educational
provisions for highly able students, particularly use of
ability grouping in disadvantaged rural settings.