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How is giftedness defined in light of the latest research? How does the 21st century educator respond to giftedness? What complexities make up the life of the poor/disadvantaged/minority gifted and how do schools respond to their needs? The Gifted Brain: Science, Secrets & Synapses is a 3 credit hour course that examines what it means to be gifted, how gifted brains function differently from “regular” brains, challenges gifted students face, and how we can support them in our classrooms. This gifted class looks at the evolving definition of gifted and how giftedness presents itself in various forms. Gifted students face many challenges and can be high risk for failure if schools do not provide the appropriate environment for stimulation and growth. Participants in this class will learn how to use current research to develop classrooms that reach the multi-faceted needs of the gifted learner. Information is provided on how to apply strategies and interventions to maximize the academic, emotional, and social life of the gifted child in practical, hands on, and real life situations.
Organization
The course is organized into 4 Modules. Participants are encouraged to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.The length of time each unit should take to complete varies from approximately 30 to 35 hrs. Lessons will be taught using a combination of readings, videos, external resources, examples, discussion forums, activities, assignments, and enrichment materials. The instructor will offer coaching and feedback on assignments.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
1. Understand the ways giftedness is defined
2. Be familiar with the different types of giftedness
3. Understand the challenges gifted students face
4. Understand how the gifted brain functions differently
5. Know strategies for challenging gifted brain including curriculum differentiation, curriculum initiatives, environmental,
and higher-level thinking supports
6. Understand reasons for underachievement and ways to motivate underachieving gifted students
7. Understand different characteristic of twice-exceptional (gifted) students
Course Topics
1. How giftedness is defined
2. Types of giftedness
3. Challenges including coping, social emotional characteristics and the effects of praise
4. How the gifted brain is different from the “normal” brain
5. Challenging the gifted brain
6. The environment, curriculum initiatives and teaching for creativity
7. The underachieving gifted student
8. Identity Formation Model
9. The spatially gifted student
10. Gifted minority students and ELL students
11. The Twice Gifted student
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text: How the Gifted Brain Learns, 2nd ed. (2009) by David A. Sousa. It can be purchased through local bookstores or ordered online. .
Organization
The course is organized into 4 Modules. Participants are encouraged to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.The length of time each unit should take to complete varies from approximately 30 to 35 hrs. Lessons will be taught using a combination of readings, videos, external resources, examples, discussion forums, activities, assignments, and enrichment materials. The instructor will offer coaching and feedback on assignments.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
1. Understand the ways giftedness is defined
2. Be familiar with the different types of giftedness
3. Understand the challenges gifted students face
4. Understand how the gifted brain functions differently
5. Know strategies for challenging gifted brain including curriculum differentiation, curriculum initiatives, environmental,
and higher-level thinking supports
6. Understand reasons for underachievement and ways to motivate underachieving gifted students
7. Understand different characteristic of twice-exceptional (gifted) students
Course Topics
1. How giftedness is defined
2. Types of giftedness
3. Challenges including coping, social emotional characteristics and the effects of praise
4. How the gifted brain is different from the “normal” brain
5. Challenging the gifted brain
6. The environment, curriculum initiatives and teaching for creativity
7. The underachieving gifted student
8. Identity Formation Model
9. The spatially gifted student
10. Gifted minority students and ELL students
11. The Twice Gifted student
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text: How the Gifted Brain Learns, 2nd ed. (2009) by David A. Sousa. It can be purchased through local bookstores or ordered online. .
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