PAGE and Chapman University 3 Graduate Elective Course: An Overview
Course Title: Exploring New Worlds in Gifted Education
Instructor, Franny McAleer, 724-941-4032 or 724-413-6001 (cell)
Chapman University graduate-level extension courses are designed to serve the needs of those requiring professional upgrading and to enable teachers and administrators to meet requirements for salary increment steps and for recertification. Individuals desiring to include this course in a Master's Degree program offered at another institution should secure the approval of that institution prior to enrollment.
I. Scope of Course:
Exploring New Worlds in Gifted Education, a graduate elective course, is designed to provide special and regular educators with an understanding of the structures that are necessary to challenge gifted students in the area of creative and critical thinking. In addition, supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of these students is critical, involving an understanding of the nature of giftedness and the unique social, emotional and intellectual challenges that teachers and parents face. Best practices will be the focus of this course with the goal of meeting the intellectual, creative, social and emotional needs of gifted and high ability learners.
II. Prerequisites: None
III. Course Structure: "Course Title: Exploring New Worlds in Gifted Education” will be taught as a partnership between the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE), a non-profit advocacy organization affiliated with the National Association for Gifted Education and Chapman University.
IV. Conference Dates and Graduate Student Meetings, April 22-24, 2010: We will be meeting at 8:00 A.M. Thursday and following the last breakout session each day to discuss, share, brainstorm, network, and plan. There will not be a meeting at the end of the day on Saturday.
VI. Costs: Graduate credit fee $445. You must also register and pay for the conference, www.penngifted.org.
VII. Course Objectives: This graduate elective course is designed to provide special and regular educators and parents with an understanding of differentiating instruction for high ability and gifted students.
VIII. General Conduct of Course, Evaluation, and Requirements
A. Before you come to the conference -- Research and reflection (Students will read and reflect on six articles related to topics of interest with three being related to the topics of each of the featured speakers. The reflection should focus on how the new understanding changes your thoughts related to gifted education.)
B. While attending the conference -- Conference research, data collection and reporting journal (Conference research, data collection and reporting journal (Students will keep a journal to record the information from each session by creating appropriate graphic organizers to highlight key ideas. The journal will summarize and apply the key understandings to the student’s role in the classroom. Information must address the two half day pre conference sessions, two keynotes, breakout sessions, and sessions designed solely for those participating in the graduate component of the conference.)
C. After the conference -- Conference Project to be completed by Graduate Students (Individual Project: The sky is the limit! Students will apply what they have learned by completing a project to improve the quality and/or understanding of gifted and talented education. This might be something that can be used in your classroom or school.)
IX. Evaluation - Evaluation of the Student: Every attempt will be made to evaluate the student in terms of the stated objectives using the following point system: Research and critique of six articles (20), participation in meetings for graduate credit participants (10), journal (35), and individual integration project (35) with a total of 100 points. Final grades will be determined with the following grading scale and will be based on the total number of points earned on the assignments.
100 - 90 = A 89 - 80 = B 79 - 70 = C
All work will be submitted to Franny McAleer in May 25, 2010.