Challenge by Design: Differentiation for High-Ability Learners

Critical Agendas presents this fast-paced, practical workshop led by Pamela Burton on differentiation for high-ability learners in Years 5–9. 'Challenge by Design' moves beyond the common but inadequate strategy of giving advanced students 'more work' and instead equips educators with systematic approaches to providing genuine intellectual challenge from the outset of unit planning. Burton demystifies the major frameworks in gifted education—Tomlinson, Maker, Renzulli, and Kaplan—and translates them into clear, actionable planning moves that work across subjects aligned to the Australian and Victorian Curriculum. Participants will learn decision rules for when to compact curriculum, what to extend, and how to group students flexibly, all supported by practical tools including a Compacting & Extension planner, Tiered Task/Assessment builder, Choice-Board and RAFT templates, and differentiation-friendly rubrics. Burton brings over three decades of experience spanning leadership development, school improvement, and gifted education across all educational sectors in Victoria. Her workshops are known for modelling, hands-on design activities, and Australian examples that teachers can implement immediately in their next unit.