Context and Content in Rural Gifted Education: A Literature Review

Abstract

Understanding the nuances of the two individually specialized fields of rural education and gifted education is challenging for practitioners and education researchers. However, the combined field of rural gifted education has even more complexities. An examination of context and content in rural gifted education holds potential to elucidate facets of this specialized convergent field for advances in practice and research. This literature review systematically explores complexities in the individual fields of rural education and gifted education as they relate to the unique aspects of rural gifted education. This review provides an understanding of rurality as a context for gifted education; examines rural-specific questions about curricula content, particularly place-based curricula in gifted education; and identifies successes, challenges, and gaps in rural gifted education. The review can serve as the foundation for research exploring potential influences of place and achievement on what it means to be both rural and gifted.