Icons of Depth and Icons of Depth and Complexity & Complexity & The Content The Content ImperativesImperatives

Erik MickelsonErik Mickelson

emickelson@psusd.usemickelson@psusd.us

Strategies for Strategies for Differentiating for High-Differentiating for High-

Ability StudentsAbility Students

•Elements of Depth & Elements of Depth & ComplexityComplexity•Content ImperativesContent Imperatives•Universal ThemesUniversal Themes•Think Like A Think Like A DisciplinarianDisciplinarian•Scholarly PursuitsScholarly Pursuits

How the Icons of Depth and How the Icons of Depth and Complexity EvolvedComplexity EvolvedPurpose: To provide Gifted Students with Purpose: To provide Gifted Students with Opportunities forOpportunities for

Higher Level Thinking and LearningHigher Level Thinking and Learning

Kaplan and GouldKaplan and Gould

Dual-CodingDual-Coding

State Standard Review: MediocrityState Standard Review: Mediocrity

Ancient PhilosophersAncient Philosophers

Derived from High School Advanced Placement Derived from High School Advanced Placement TestsTests

Infused into the Standards Based CurriculumInfused into the Standards Based Curriculum

Has Become the California Model for Teaching Has Become the California Model for Teaching Gifted and Talented StudentsGifted and Talented Students

DepthDepth ComplexityComplexity

• Studying many Studying many aspects of a aspects of a single topicsingle topic

• Going deeper Going deeper into a subjectinto a subject

• Becoming an Becoming an “expert” in a “expert” in a subjectsubject

• Making connections Making connections across several across several topicstopics

or academic subjectsor academic subjects

• Seeing relationshipsSeeing relationships

between seeminglybetween seemingly

unconnected ideas orunconnected ideas or

conceptsconcepts

The Differentiation The Differentiation EquationEquation• Thinking SkillsThinking Skills

• Content (D/C)Content (D/C)

• Research/Research/ResourcesResources

• ProductProduct

T/S + C (D/C) + R T/S + C (D/C) + R + P+ P

Learning Learning EnvironmentEnvironment

Icons of DepthIcons of DepthRulesRules

The guide or proceduresThe guide or procedures

one must obey in aone must obey in a

discipline; the structure,discipline; the structure,

order, or hierarchy.order, or hierarchy.Rules of NatureRules of Nature

Rules of LawRules of Law

Rules of CultureRules of Culture

Language of Language of the the DisciplineDiscipline

Specific Academic Specific Academic LanguageLanguage

of a particular field of of a particular field of study.study.

VocabularyVocabulary

TermsTerms

Icons of DepthIcons of Depth

PatternsPatterns

Occurrences or Occurrences or conceptsconcepts

that repeat.that repeat.

Historical PatternsHistorical Patterns

Mathematical PatternsMathematical Patterns

TrendsTrends

Situations or ideas Situations or ideas particularparticular

to a specific period, to a specific period, culture,culture,

set of circumstancesset of circumstances

Trends in Science andTrends in Science and

TechnologyTechnology

Icons of DepthIcons of Depth

Big IdeaBig Idea

Large universal Large universal conceptsconcepts

Ultimate MeaningsUltimate Meanings

One Word SummariesOne Word Summaries

DetailsDetails

Information that Information that supports orsupports or

proves the Big Ideaproves the Big Idea

Relevant pieces but Relevant pieces but not thenot the

whole picturewhole picture

Icons of DepthIcons of Depth

EthicsEthics

Right, Wrong, andRight, Wrong, and

Gray AreasGray Areas

The “Should” The “Should” QuestionsQuestions

UnansweredUnanswered

QuestionsQuestions

What has not or What has not or cannot becannot be

AnsweredAnswered

Things to PonderThings to Ponder

Icons of ComplexityIcons of Complexity

Change over Time Change over Time How time affects ideas and situationsHow time affects ideas and situations

Across DisciplinesAcross Disciplines

Relationships between Subject AreasRelationships between Subject Areas

Multiple PerspectivesMultiple PerspectivesDifferent ViewpointsDifferent Viewpoints

Using Complexity Using Complexity withwith

AstronomyAstronomyChanges over time:Changes over time:

Beliefs about the Universe in the Beliefs about the Universe in the pastpast,,

presentpresent and and futurefuture??

Across Disciplines:Across Disciplines:

Math and Literature related to Space?Math and Literature related to Space?

Multiple Perspectives:Multiple Perspectives:

Political/Social perspectives on Space Political/Social perspectives on Space Exploration?Exploration?

Using Depth in The Story Using Depth in The Story ofof CinderellaCinderella• Rules of a Fairytale?Rules of a Fairytale?• Language in a Fairytale?Language in a Fairytale?• Patterns of the Story?Patterns of the Story?• Trends particular to the time the Trends particular to the time the Story takes place?Story takes place?

• Big Idea or Moral of the Story?Big Idea or Moral of the Story?• Details that prove the Big Idea?Details that prove the Big Idea?• Ethical issues in the Story?Ethical issues in the Story?• Unanswered Questions after the Story Unanswered Questions after the Story ends?ends?

Content ImperativesOrigin: Beginning, Root, Source, Foundation, Basis, Catalyst, Causation, Germination, Derivation

Contribution:Value, Achievement, Perseverance, Creativity,

Impact, Share, Effects

Content Imperatives•Parallel:Match, Similarity, Analogous

•Paradox:Contradiction, Irony,

Opposites, Incongruity

•Convergence:Merging, Intersection, Coming Together