Learners and environments

Being different can be a source of satisfaction and pride, but it can also have its problems. These problems are no more apparent than for those who have an impairment or a disability (these terms are discussed later in this section) that limits opportunities and progress in school and in adult life. Curiously, being different can also present significant challenges for learners with very high ability. For many gifted students, school can be a very lonely, frustrating, or unhappy place because advanced intellectual ability is not often appreciated by others and can lead to rejection by age peers. To begin our discussion of teaching-learning ecologies and educational practices, it will be useful to first reflect on the past.