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Teaching commitmentBiographyDr Margaret Plunkett has a background in secondary education, although for the past eight years she has been teaching at the tertiary level. She is currently Deputy Course Director of Secondary Teacher Education at Monash University. Margaret coordinates and lectures in a range of units in both secondary and primary education but her main area of interest is Gifted Education. Her undergraduate unit EDF4512 (Gifted Education)is a popular elective for both on campus and distance education students, attracting around 130 students per year. Margaret has also conducted professional development in Gifted Education in a range of primary and secondary schools throughout Gippsland as well as working with parents of gifted children.
Gifted education has been the focus of Margaret's research for the past 10 years and both her Masters thesis and PhD have been in that area. Margaret has also completed research for the Department of Education, Victoria on the SEAL program and for a range of individual schools in both Gippsland and Melbourne, evaluating gifted programming. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and has published widely in the area.
Research InterestsGifted Education
Ability grouping
Self-efficacy
Teacher professional development
Mixed methodology
Beginning teachers
Professional Associations
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
- World Council for Gifted Education (WCGE)- elected Australian representative , 2006-2008, 2009-2011
- Australian Association for the Education of Gifted and Talented (AAEGT)
- Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children (VAGTC)
- Member of Australian College of Educators (MACE)
Community Service
- 2000 - 2004 Conducted Professional Development in the area of gifted education in many of the local primary and secondary schools including: Kurnai Secondary College, Lowanna Secondary College, Traralgon Secondary College, Sale Secondary College, Wonthaggi Secondary College, Grey St Primary School, Boolarra Primary School and the Churchill cluster of primary schools.
- 2002 Coordinated a Virtual Mentoring program for bright year 10 students in the Gippsland region.
- 1996- 2004 Provided advice and support for parents and teachers in the region in relation to the education of high ability children.
- 1996 - 1999 Helped initiate the CHIP Centre Gippsland a testing and support service for Children of High Intellectual Potential (CHIP). This was supported by the Gippsland DE&T as an initiative of the Bright Futures policy 1995
- 1994 1999 Involved in the establishment and running of Bright Sparks a Gippsland based support group for parents and teachers of gifted children.
- 1994- 1999 Involved in publishing Powerlines magazines which were sent to all Bright Sparks members and each school in the Gippsland Region.
PublicationsPUBLICATIONS
Somerville, M., Plunkett, M. & Dyson, M. (in press). New teachers learning in rural and regional Australia. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. (Accepted 6.10.09)
Plunkett, M. (2009). Tales from the Pond: Student Perceptions of Ability Grouped and Mainstream Learning Environments. Germany: VDM-Verlag.
Kronborg, L. Kelly, L., & Plunkett, M. (2009). Curricula responses to teaching gifted students in Australia (3rd Ed). Maker, C.J. & Schiver, S.W. Curriculum Development and Teaching Strategies for Gifted Learners (pp.317-327). Austin TX; ProEd.
Kronborg, L. & Plunkett, M. (2009). Providing an Optimal School Context for Talent Development: An Extended Curriculum Program in Practice (4.11) in Eyre, D. (ED). Major Themes in Gifted Education (4 Volumes). Routledge: London
Kronborg, L. & Plunkett, M. (2008). Curriculum differentiation: an innovative Australian secondary school program to extend academic talent. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 17(1), 19-29.
Plunkett, M. & Kronborg, L. (2007). Gifted education in Australia: A story of striving for balance. Gifted Education International 23(1), 72-83.
Plunkett, M. & Kronborg, L. (2007). The importance of social-emotional context: Perceptions of students, parents and teachers regarding an Extended Curriculum Program for students with high abilities. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 16(2), 35-43.
Kronborg, L. & Plunkett, M. (2006). Providing an optimal school context for talent development: An extended curriculum program in practice. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 15(1), 16-24.
Plunkett, M. Harvey, D. & Harvey, B. (2003). Survived or thrived? Reflections of graduates of an accelerated learning program. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 12(2), 5-17
Plunkett, M. (2002). Impacting on Teacher Attitudes Toward Gifted Students. In W. Vialle & J. Geake (Eds.), The Gifted Enigma: A Collection of Articles. Melbourne: Hawker Brownlow Education.
Plunkett, M. (2001). Impacting on Teacher Attitudes Toward Gifted Students. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 9(2), 33-42.
Plunkett, M. (2000). Educating Teachers to Meet the Needs of the Gifted: An Option or a Necessity? TalentEd, 18(1&2), 9-16.)
Plunkett, M. & Harvey, D. (1999). Teaching the Gifted: Is Interest Alone Enough? Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 4(1), 16-21.
Plunkett, M. & Harvey, D. (1995) Accelerated Learning Programs: Lessons from a Country College. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 8(2), 16-19.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Plunkett, M. (2009). Re-conceptualizating social justice implications of ability grouping based on student perceptions. Paper presented at the 18th Biennial World Conference. World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, Vancouver, Canada, August 4-9, 2009.
Plunkett, M., Kronborg, L., & Pilbrow, J. (2009). Impacting on pre-service teacher attitudes towards giftedness & gifted education: Can a semester make a difference? Paper presented at the 18th Biennial World Conference. World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, Vancouver, Canada, August 4-9, 2009.
Plunkett, M. (2009). Re-conceptualizing ability grouping within a social justice framework: A student perspective. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, April 209.
Somerville, M., Plunkett, M. & Dyson. M. (2008). Thirty teachers go to school: New teachers learning in rural and regional communities. Joint paper presented at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) 12th Annual Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 3-6, 2008.
Plunkett, M. (2008). Tales from the pond: Australian students perception of grouped and mainstream learning environments. Paper presented at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) 12th Annual Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 3-6, 2008.
Plunkett, M. (2008). Grouping students by ability to maximise achievement, motivation and self-efficacy. Paper presented at the European Council for High Ability (ECHA) 11th International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, September 17-20, 2008.
Plunkett, M. (2007). Ability grouping in a rural setting: The student perspective. Paper presented at 17th Biennial World Conference. World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, University Of Warwick, England, August 5-10, 2007.
Kronborg, L., Plunkett, M., & Kelly, L. (2007). Extending the Curriculum an evaluation of a program for academically able students. Paper presented at 17th Biennial World Conference. World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, University Of Warwick, England, August 5-10, 2007.
Plunkett, M. (2006). Tales from the Pond: Student perceptions of grouped and mainstream learning environments. Poster presentation at National Association for Gifted Children 53rd Annual Convention, Charlotte, North Carolina, November 1-5, 2006.
Plunkett, M. & Osborn, M. (2006). Mix and match or mismatch? High ability students and rural schools in an Australian context. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April, 2006.
Plunkett, M. (2005). Ability grouping in a rural setting: An enabling or disabling experience? Paper presented at 16th World Conference for Gifted Children, New Orleans, August, 2005.
Plunkett, M. (2005). The Like Minds Program: An Australian experience of programming for disadvantaged high-ability students. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, April, 2005.
Plunkett, M. (2004) Help or Hindrance? Ability Grouping in an Australian Rural Setting. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, April, 2004.
Plunkett, M. (2003) Survived or thrived? Reflections of graduates of an accelerated learning program. Paper presented at the15th Biennial World Conference for Gifted and Talented Children, Adelaide, South Australia, August 1-5, 2003
Osborn, M. & Plunkett, M. (2003) Learning styles and assessment: Mix and match or mismatch? Paper presented at NZARE/AARE Conference in Auckland, N.Z, Nov 30-Dec 3, 2003.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Plunkett, M. (2008). Student reflections on a likeminds experience. Paper presented at the 12th National Conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Hobart, Tasmania, July 9-11, 2008.
Kronborg, L., Plunkett, M., Kelly, L. & Urquhart, F. (2008). Student attitudes towards an extended curriculum program. Paper presented at the 12th Conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Hobart, Tasmania, July 9-11, 2008.
Plunkett, M. (2004). Ability Based Learning Experience (ABLE) for able students: Enable or disable? Paper presented at 10th Australian Conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Melbourne, August, 2004.
Osborn, M. & Plunkett, M. (2004). Independent study skills: Nurturing self-efficacy to enrich the post compulsory learning experience. Paper presented at The Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, Melbourne, Nov 28-Dec 2, 2004.
Levy, S., Osborn, M. & Plunkett, M. (2003). An investigation of international students transition needs. Paper presented at 7th Pacific Rimm First year in Higher Education Conference Brisbane 9-11 July 2003.
Plunkett, M. (2000). Impacting on teacher attitudes toward gifted students. Paper presented at the 8th National Conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented, Brisbane, 2-5 July, 2000.
FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
2006 (Somerville, M. & Plunkett, M.) Mapping new teachers learning place and forming community, Monash University Small Grant, $12,000.
2006 (Plunkett, M.) Investigating the pedagogical and social needs of the Gippsland Education Precinct (GEP) Community. Gippsland Strategic Initaive Grant, $2,500
2004 (Plunkett M. & Kronborg, L.) Department of Education and Training, Victoria: Evaluation of Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Programs ($25,000).
2005 (Kronborg, L. & Plunkett, M.) Evaluation of the Extended Curriculum Program (ECP) at Melbourne Girls Grammar School ($12,000).
AWARDS
2000 Annual Research Award - for research into Gifted Education (TalentEd).
2005 Australian College of Educators (ACE) (Gippsland) Teaching Award:Life Long Learning.
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