Views of teachers about gifted curriculum (case of BİLSEM)

This study has been conducted in an attempt to ascertain the views of teachers working at Science and Art Centers on the curriculum for the gifted. The survey method has been applied in this descriptive study. As data collection tool, the study has used a questionnaire which was prepared by the researcher and the validity-reliability studies of which were conducted by the researcher consisting of items such as the personal information of teachers, their views on the educational programs designed for the gifted, the frequency of their use of methods and techniques referred to in the education of the gifted and the problems they face. The questionnaire was applied to 337 teachers working in 24 Science and Art Centers selected at random. However, due to sections that are not filled or randomly filled, only 318 questionnaires were taken for evaluation.As a result of analyses, it was seen that the views of teachers on the curriculum applied to the gifted in Science and Art Centers were positive in general. It was determined that the teachers generally agree to the views on the curriculum for the gifted in Science and Art Centers. Findings on the frequency of teachers' use of methods and techniques referred to in the education of the gifted children revealed that the teachers use observation method-technique most frequently and structured grid method-technique the least frequently. Upon examination of the findings on problems faced by teachers in the education of the gifted, it was determined that the majority of teachers were confronted with issues relating to the physical environment in Science and Art Centers. In line with these results, curriculum in the center must be reviewed in order to reveal the skills of the gifted students and materials suitable for local characteristics and individual qualities in technical and contextual sense must be kept available in centers. Also, suggestions were made towards the review of physical environments, equipment capabilities of Science and Art Centers.