Designing educational environments for gifted students: a framework for variability and integration

Introduction. The diverse educational needs and individual characteristics of gifted students necessitate the creation of an environment that fosters their fullest development and the realisation of their potential. In the context of digitalisation, rapid social transformations, increasing competition, and the growing importance of human potential, the issue of individualising the educational process is becoming particularly urgent. There is now a need to shift from standardised, universal solutions to flexible and adaptive educational strategies. Aim. The present study aimed to establish a methodological framework for designing an educational environment for gifted students, based on categories of variability and integration, to create flexible learning pathways that consider students’ interests, academic inclinations, and the development of their professional potential. The challenges faced by teachers and educational organisations in adapting to changing standards and educational policies are also examined. Methodology and research methods. The study is based on an interdisciplinary methodological approach, incorporating pedagogical, philosophical, cultural, and psychological-anthropological foundations. Methods such as theoretical analysis, conceptual modelling, component-structural synthesis, and comparison of scientific approaches to establishing conditions for the development of talented students were employed. Contemporary empirical data reflecting both Russian and international experience were taken into account. Scientific novelty. This study establishes, for the first time, the methodological foundations for using integration and variability to design adaptive learning pathways for gifted students. Practical significance. The proposed model provides a framework for designing adaptive educational systems in Russian universities, enabling them to more effectively maximise students’ intellectual and professional potential.

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