Which education is best- gifted program or international baccalaureate program?

Answer 1

As a parent educator who has had a gifted child in the International Baccalaureate program and as a specialist in gifted education, I find this question to be problematic. For example, if I ask "Which vehicle is best form of transport, a car or a Mazda 626?" you are likely to say "but they are both cars!" You would want to know more detail about the general term "car" which could describe anything from a malfunctioning Model T Ford to the latest model eco-friendly vehicle. You are also likely to want to know what the criteria are for selecting the 'best" car - best in comfort, speed, number of passengers, economy, safest... the list goes on and on. So to answer this question, one has to be able to be able to evaluate and compare the SPECIFIC gifted program against the International Baccalaureate. One also needs indepth details about the International Baccalaureate Program, and make sure that one is comparing "apples with apples" and not apples and Pears. Most importantly, one must look at the learning needs of the gifted student. Gifted how? In what areas? Which strengths are going to be enhanced in this programme? How appropriate is the programme for the short, medium and long term learning goals of this student? The International Baccalaureate is most definitely a programme to stretch our most highly gifted students, whilst still being an achievable goal for motivated, hard-working average and above average students. However, it may not be the right for allgifted. The term "a gifted program" is far too vague, as I have stated. Some gifted programs are poorly conceived and delivered, and inadequately assessed. Their content is not defensible nor necessarily adequate to meet the needs of the students within the program. Some are excellent, matching the type of criteria that a high quality educational program shoudl meet. So - all in all - not a good question. But I do endorse the International Baccalaureate as a program totally suited to challenging and stimulating most (but not necessarily all) gifted students.