The Depth & Complexity Framework
Research, Importance, & Roll-out Strategy
Research & Importance
The concept of depth and complexity was first discussed and defined in a 1994 position paper co-published by the California Department of Education and the California Association for the Gifted, with Dr. Sandra Kaplan as a principal contributor. A year later, Kaplan and Bette Gould published The Flip Book, the first book for the general public on the topic.
In 1996, a project called Curriculum T.W.O., funded by a Javits grant, led to the development of the 11 elements of depth and complexity. These elements were represented by icons, developed by Sheila Madsen, which are now perhaps the most widely recognized aspect of the framework. This work became the foundation for Texas’s own inclusion of depth and complexity in its state plan for gifted and talented students.
The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students informs districts of the need to modify curriculum in terms of depth, complexity, and pacing to meet the needs of gifted/talented students.
Defining Depth and Complexity
What is Depth?
Depth is the exploration within a discipline. It involves “digging down” into deeper levels of understanding by going past facts and concepts to uncover generalizations, principles, theories, and laws. It moves from the concrete to the abstract and from the known to the unknown.
Symbolized by a vortex or vertical line, depth is the opposite of surface-level learning and helps students organize and construct meaning, making the knowledge more enduring.
What is Complexity?
Complexity is seeing relationships in, between, and across disciplines. This can be achieved by examining relationships over time, discovering connections among ideas within and across different subjects, and investigating relationships from multiple points of view.
Symbolized by overlapping shapes or a horizontal line, complexity helps students relate to and apply concepts at a more sophisticated level, bridging diverse subjects and finding effective solutions from considering multiple perspectives.
A Suggested Roll-out Strategy
Effectively implementing the Depth & Complexity Framework involves more than just handing students a list of prompts. It requires a thoughtful, staged approach that builds student confidence and independence over time. Here is a suggested strategy for a successful roll-out in your classroom.
Step 1: Introduction to the Icons
Begin by introducing just one or two icons at a time, such as Language of the Discipline and Details. Explain the meaning of each icon and its corresponding question stems. Display the icons prominently in the classroom to serve as a visual reference.
Step 2: Teacher-Led Prompts
For the first few weeks, the teacher should exclusively model the use of the icons by creating and providing all the prompts. This allows students to see the framework in action and understand how each element guides them to think more deeply about the content.
Step 3: Guided Practice
Transition to guided practice where students create their own prompts in small groups. Provide them with a subject-area topic and ask them to formulate questions using the icons they’ve learned. This collaborative step helps reinforce the concepts before they are asked to work independently.
Step 4: Independent Application
Once students are comfortable, they can begin to create their own prompts individually. Encourage them to pick and choose the elements that are most relevant to a given topic. This is where the framework truly becomes a tool for student independence and differentiation.
By following this phased approach, students will naturally internalize the framework and begin to use the elements to guide their own learning and curiosity, making them more thoughtful and critical thinkers.