Virtual provision for gifted secondary school students: Keeping the best and brightest in the bush

This evaluative research, using mixed methods in a case study approach, investigated the perceived value of an academically selective virtual high school in Western NSW Region. The thesis describes how gifted students remained in rural, regional and remote areas with their family and attended their local government high school, whilst undertaking fast-paced differentiated curriculum offerings that met their academic needs in English, mathematics and science in an online environment. The value of this provision, as perceived by the students and their families was very positive with regional, rural and remote students consistently attaining academic results comparable to a metropolitan selective high school whilst feeling a real sense of belonging to two schools. Keeping the best and brightest in the bush contributed to a dynamic social fabric in the schools and communities of these rural, regional and remote students.

本评估研究采用混合研究方法结合案例研究范式，针对新南威尔士州（New South Wales, NSW）西部地区的一所学术选拔制虚拟高中的感知价值展开了系统性调研。该研究详述了资优学生如何在留守农村、地区及偏远地区与家人共同生活的同时，入读当地公立高中，并依托在线学习环境修习进度紧凑、适配其学术需求的差异化课程设置，覆盖英语、数学与科学三大核心学科。学生及其家庭对该办学模式的感知价值极为积极：这些农村、地区及偏远地区的学生学业成绩始终可与大都市选拔制高中的学生比肩，同时还能真切感受到隶属于两所学校的归属感。将最优秀、最聪慧的学子留在乡村地区，可为这些学生所在的学校与社区构筑充满活力的社会生态。