The Impact of a School-Based Course on Teaching Gifted Children on Teachers’ Professional Practice

Abstract Book of the 8th Global Conference on Education and Teaching

Year: 2026

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The Impact of a School-Based Course on Teaching Gifted Children on Teachers’ Professional Practice

Zhanerke Mukanova, Elmira Moldabek

ABSTRACT:

In today’s rapidly developing world, education systems are undergoing continuous reform. The Kazakhstani education system represents an ongoing and significant process that requires a high level of professional competence from teaching staff. This article examines the role of a school-based course in enhancing subject teachers’ professional development. The main aim of the study is to improve colleagues’ professional practice through a school-based course developed within the framework of the “Teaching Gifted Children” programme.
To achieve this aim, several specific objectives were set. First, to implement a school-based course in accordance with the programme requirements; second, to organise research activities through systematic observation of colleagues’ teaching practice. Within the study, a range of teaching and professional learning methods was employed for course participants, including lesson observation, questionnaires, collaborative medium-term lesson planning, and the establishment of subject-based teacher research groups.
The findings indicate that participation in the school-based “Teaching Gifted Children” course enabled teachers to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of giftedness and gifted learners, to explore effective methods for identifying gifted students, and to select appropriate teaching strategies aligned with differentiation principles while taking into account learners’ needs and abilities across different age groups. The results of the study demonstrate that this school-based course plays a significant role in enhancing teachers’ professional competence and improving the quality of education provided to gifted students.

Keywords: school-based course, teaching methods, principles of differentiation, professional development, gifted children