Nature and Need of Student Who Are Gifted provides an overview of the evolution of gifted education on the national, state and local level. Major events affecting gifted education are described as well as major policies, and procedures governing the delivery of gifted education. Cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics common to individuals who are gifted are identified along with strategies that can be used to meet the academic needs of different categories of students who are gifted.

Duration: 8 weeks
Inservice: 60 points
Audience: Instructional K-12
Access to Students: Yes

Syllabus

Week 1: Who, What, Why?
Week 2: Theory vs. Theory & Their Connection to Identifying the Gifted
Week 3: Historical and Current Trends in Gifted Education
Week 4: Screening and Identification
Week 5: Program Models and Curricular Options
Week 6: Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students
Week 7: Procedural Safeguards and Advocacy Issues
Week 8: Characteristics of an Effective Teacher of the Gifted

Specific Objectives

Participants will:

• develop an awareness of the teacher's role in the identification process
• develop an awareness of the process and content of individual psychological testing in the identification of the gifted
• develop an awareness of the roles and functions of various systems which support teachers working to meet the needs of children who are gifted
• develop an awareness of the cognitive and affective characteristics of children who are gifted
• develop an awareness of the basic issues involved with the planning, developing, and implementing of programs for children who are gifted

Implementation

Evidence that course content has been transferred to daily instruction might include:

• increased identification of gifted students
• increased implementation of Educational Goals in the classroom
• increased faculty knowledge of gifted characteristics
• increased student achievement in the classroom

Inservice

• complete all assignments
• participate each week in the Discussion Area
• score at least 80% or higher on post test

To receive the inservice points, all course requirements must be completed independently by the participant and not plagiarized from any other source or person.

Prerequisites

Participants must possess the following computer skills and software to participate in this course:

• an understanding of your computer’s operating system and software
• the ability to access the Internet and knowledge of Internet search techniques
• the ability to download and install files from the Internet
• an up-to-date antivirus software package