Gifted Education: Using Enrichment Clusters

Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli earned his status as one the American Psychological Association's 25 most influential psychologists in the world through his pioneering work in gifted education and applying the pedagogy of gifted education teaching strategies to all students. Together with Dr. Marcia Gentry, a professor at Perdue College of Education and director of the Gifted Education Resource Institute, Dr. Renzulli has written this quick-reference laminated guide for K-12 teachers that explains how to use Enrichment Clusters-- an innovative component of the Renzulli Schoolwide Enrichment Model-- to engage students, develop skills, and promote advanced learning. 

In six concise pages, the authors introduce readers to Enrichment Clusters, which engage students in interest-based, student-driven, real-world learning experiences.  This "brand of learning" focuses on providing resources, guidance, and feedback to individuals and small groups based on their interests, learning styles, and preferred modes of expression. Enrichment Clusters are the academic equivalent of extra curricular activities, with teachers serving as coaches or facilitators rather than traditional instructors. The guide outlines seven steps for successfully implementing Enrichment Clusters, which include general exploratory activities (Type I Enrichment), group training activities (Type II enrichment), and individual and small group investigations of real problems (Type III enrichment). It also includes a getting started guide and tips for evaluation and assessment.