ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a professional development approach to address the teacher preparation standards through the lens of student outcomes. It provides suggestions for professional learning experiences that can lead to the sample student outcomes. A range of educators can benefit from professional development in gifted education, including beginning educators with little to no previous exposure to standards related to gifted education, teachers of general education classes. Just as educators are encouraged to regularly monitor student performance and learning needs to develop appropriately challenging classroom learning experiences, professional development designers should also consider the needs, abilities, experiences, interests, and readiness of the educators before implementing any professional development opportunity. Just as student learning opportunities should be designed with learner needs in mind. Regardless of the method of teacher professional development selected, the approach to the professional development effort should remain standards-focused and encompass activities with student outcomes in mind.
