IAG NEWS BLOG

Davidson Institute

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:18:52 -0400

The Davidson Academy of Nevada - Applications Available for 2009-2010 School Year

The Davidson Academy of Nevada, a free public day school for profoundly gifted pupils on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, is now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications can be downloaded at www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu. Complete applications need to be submitted by the first of each month, with the final deadline being March 1, 2009. Admissions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Davidson Academy seeks to provide profoundly gifted young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests. Unlike many traditional school settings, the Academy’s classes are not grouped by age-based grades, but by ability level. To be eligible to attend The Davidson Academy, students must be at the middle or high school level across all subject areas and score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT.

Not sure if The Davidson Academy is the right fit for you? Join us for an Academy tour and information session on Friday, Nov. 21 or Thursday, Dec. 11, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please RSVP at www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu/Explore. To learn more about The Davidson Academy, admission criteria or to download an application, please visit www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu.

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2009 THINK Summer Institute - Applications Now Available

The Davidson Institute is seeking profoundly gifted students, ages 13 through 16, who are interested in attending the 2009 THINK Summer Institute. THINK is a three-week residential summer program on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno where students can earn six college credits by completing two university-level courses taught by university professors.

The 2009 THINK Summer Institute will run from July 11 through August 1. Tuition is $2,700 and covers course credits, room and board and the cost of planned programs and activities. Financial assistance is available based on need.

To qualify, students must be 13 to 16 years old during THINK, and must meet or exceed designated SAT or ACT scores. The deadline for early acceptance is January 14, 2009. Due to the intense nature of the program, enrollment is limited to 60 students. Homeschooled students are eligible to apply. To download an application or to learn more about THINK, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org/THINK.

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2009 Davidson Fellows $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 Scholarships – Applications Now Available

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people under the age of 18 who have completed a significant piece of work. The scholarship rewards students who create an individual project that is recognized as an outstanding accomplishment by experts in the field and has the potential to benefit society. The application categories are Science, Technology, Mathematics, Music, Literature, Philosophy, and “Outside the Box” – graduate level work in any other field.

Davidson Fellows scholarship selection is based on the quality and level of significance of the work submitted, as well as the applicant’s understanding of the work and domain area. The deadline to apply is March 4, 2009. U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents age 17 and under are eligible; there is no minimum age to apply. Scholarship awards can be used at any accredited college or university for any major or field of study. For more information on the Davidson Fellows program or to download an application, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org/Fellows.

Dr. Zhao - Conference Keynote Information

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:37:08 -0400

Keynote:
What Knowledge is of Most Worth:
Implications of Globalization and Digital Revolution for Education

“What knowledge is of most worth?” asked the British philosopher Herbert Spencer about 150 years ago when science and technology were rapidly transforming the society as a result of the industrial revolution. His answer “science” challenged policy makers and educators to replace religion, Latin, and Greek, which had been the primary subjects in schools for hundreds of years, with modern sciences. Today, we are in the midst of another societal transformation that is at least as profound and far reaching as the industrial revolution. Globalization and the digital revolution have already resulted in significant changes in how we live, work, and entertain. The emergence of new industries and disappearance of old ones, the reconfiguration of world politics and economics, and the increasingly global nature of our daily living compel us to ask the question again. Is the current U.S. prescription for education reform, more math and science plus standardization and testing, what we need to keep future Americans competitive?
In this presentation, Dr. Yong Zhao tries to address this question through an analysis of education reforms around the globe, the implications of globalization, and the consequences of the digital revolution. He will discuss what new skills, knowledge, and abilities we might need to cultivate in our students to prepare them for the “flat” and “digital” worlds.

Break Out session:
How High Stakes Testing Ruins Education: Lessons from China and Implications for the US
Education in China has earned much admiration from American observers and China’s College Entrance Exam is perhaps one of the few exams that push the meaning of “high stakes” to the extreme. It has the attention of everyone--the child, the parents, the teachers, the administrators, and even the local government officials. While it has served many practical functions, it has caused significant damages to the education system and its products—children. As high stakes testing continues to dominant education reform policies, it is useful to examine their consequences. In this presentation, Dr. Yong Zhao provides a comprehensive balanced view of education in China in the context of increased testing and accountability in the U. S. education system.
Picture and bio:

Bio

Yong Zhao is University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, where he also serves as the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Technology, director of the US-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence, and executive director of the Confucius Institute. His is a fellow of the International Academy for Education and currently serves on the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council’s Committee to Review the Title VI and Fulbright-Hays International Education Programs. Zhao received his Ph.D in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1996. His research interests include diffusion of innovation, teacher adoption of technology, computer-assisted language learning, globalization and education, and international and comparative education. Zhao has published extensively in these areas. He has been invited to lecture on issues related to education reform, globalization, and technology in over 10 countries. He received the 2003 Raymond B. Catell Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association.

Attention Parents!

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 11:41:51 -0400

Don’t miss parent night on February 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.! Parents who attend will receive a FREE, one-year membership to IAG! This year’s conference in at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Stay tuned for more information!

Proposals are Under Review for Conference

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:54:51 -0400

Proposals for breakout sessions are under review. Session descriptions should be available and on-line by late October.

Free Literature! Gifted Education Press Quarterly!

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:29:49 -0400

Free Copy of Gifted Education Press Quarterly!
Would you like a free copy of Gifted Education Press Quarterly? To receive a free copy, please e-mail Maurice Fisher, Ph.D. at the address below.  gifted@giftededpress.com

BSU B-Day Party

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:16:28 -0400

You’re Invited to the Celebration!!
We’re having a party! Join us in celebrating the 15th birthday of Ball State’s Center for Gifted Studies & Talent Development! The event will take place at the 14th Annual Share-Indiana Conference on Parenting and Teaching Gifted Children, Saturday, September 13, from 9 to 3 at the Indianapolis Marriott North at Keystone at the Crossing. The conference will have two full-day sessions running concurrently. For this special event we are featuring two nationally recognized speakers: John Samara for teachers and Tracy Cross for parents and counselors. Teachers and those wishing to learn more about the Curry/Samara model for writing and differentiating curriculum should sign up for the Teacher Session. Parents, counselors, and those wishing to know more about parenting issues and social/emotional issues of gifted children should register for the Parent/Counselor Session. As our thanks to all of you who have supported the Center for the last 15 years, each participant will receive over $100 worth of materials. Our presenters have personally selected those items that will be most useful to those attending each session.
This year we are again holding the conference in Indianapolis in response to the overwhelming feedback we had on last year’s conference. Share-IN is co-sponsored by the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities and the Indiana Association for the Gifted. You may register using the form attached or by checking the Center website at www.bsu.edu/gifted. Seats are limited, so be among the first to register and assure your place at this conference. For more information, please contact Dr. Cheryll Adams at 800-842-4251 or cadams@bsu.edu.

Click here for registration flyer!

NAGC Debuts REdesign of Popular Parent Publication

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:05:50 -0400

Washington, DC (June 2, 2008) - The National Association for Gifted Children announces the redesign of Parenting for High Potential, the quarterly magazine targeted to parents and grandparents of high ability learners. Focused on supplementing learning at home and at school, Parenting for High Potential provides practical strategies and relevant support through a combination of in-depth articles, interviews, news items and more.

In addition to a fresh new design and layout, several new columns have been added to the magazine including “From One Parent to Another” and “An Interview With ...” Continuing features include the following: “The Buzz,” a regular article dealing with the latest research or topic of discussion in the gifted education community; “Parenting Forum,” written by Dr. Robin Schader, NAGC’s parent resource advisor, is centered around one topic with questions from parents and suggestions, resources and coping strategies; “Connecting With Kids” gives parents sure-fire ideas and tips to keep their children energized and engaged; and “Tools of the Trade” featuring resources and products for families around a particular theme or issue.

“Like all parents, my wife and I marvel at what the future might hold for our young daughter, but whether or not she enters kindergarten reading or doing math is less important than ensuring that her learning needs are met in school. As parents, we strive to provide our daughter with enriching opportunities that enable her gifts to surface. With the aid of NAGC and other advocates of gifted education, and with a terrific resource like Parenting for High Potential, parents can become involved and invested in the future promise of our nation’s talented children,” Dr. Del Siegle, NAGC President and professor at the University of Connecticut.

“Since Parenting for High Potential was first published in 1996, it has offered quality information and resources to the parents and families of gifted children. As the newest editor of PHP, I wanted to uphold the tradition of excellence while ushering in a new design that would further enhance content,” shared Dr. Jennifer L. Jolly, editor-in-chief and professor at the Louisiana State University School of Education, Baton Rouge, LA. “I hope this has translated to the renewed look of PHP in response to the changing needs of our readership. We welcome comments and suggestions in our continued efforts to serve gifted children and their parents and teachers.”

Parenting for High Potential is an NAGC member publication. For a review copy (media only), contact Karen Yoho at NAGC, kyoho@nagc.org. To join NAGC or to find further parenting resources, visit the NAGC website at www.nagc.org.

Webmaster note: For a link to PHP’S website, click here!

Interview with Robert Compton

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:15:14 -0400

***From www.c-spanarchives.org

Robert Compton talked about his documentary Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination, which compares and contrasts the education experiences of six students; two from each of the countries of India, China, and the United States. Video clips were shown as he talked about the statistics on the amount of time spent in the classroom, the influence of the students' parents on their decisions to pursue a certain career, and the degree to which those choices impact their free time during their high school years. Two million minutes is roughly four years, the amount of time high school students have to prepare for higher education and their careers. Mr. Compton talked about the importance of education to competing in the new global economy and that people in other countries took it much more seriously. He said that although many middle and high schools were using his video, schools of education had rejected any need to learn about the educational systems in competing countries.

Click here to watch the interview! Don’t forget to add comments below and to start a discussion!

“Shift Happens” Video

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:08:06 -0400

Check out this wonderful video about our changing world and the global economy in which our children will have to compete. Add a comment below and start a discussion! Have problems accessing YouTube? Click here for more options.

Article by Samantha Cleaver on Scholastic Website

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:04:25 -0400

Click here for the full article -- wonderful reading. Add a comment below and start a discussion!

IAG Cultural Competence Corner

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:20:33 -0400

The IAG Cultural Competence Corner suggests four area museums in recognition of Juneteenth. Soaring high gas prices may limit your family vacations this summer so we have recommended the following regional museums.
Click here for full article and info in pdf.
IAG Juneteenth Article.pdf

Newsletter Discussion

Tue, 20 May 2008 20:14:53 -0400

Have you read the latest newsletter by Sylvia Rimm? Check it out on our site by using the password that IAG has provided for members. Use the “add a comment” feature below to start a discussion about the content! Bring your thoughts and ideas to the table!

Camp Discoveries at Ball State

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 22:21:09 -0400

**From BSU Site

What is Camp Discoveries?
The idea for our summer camp for students with learning disabilities who are also gifted (LDG) started in 1996 and was prompted by parents and teachers who were at a loss to meet the needs of twice exceptional students in schools.
In 2003 this idea became a reality when we received a grant from the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Special Education.
Rationale and Philosophy We chose to focus enrichment on art and science because the unique combination of artistic and scientific inquiry provides a twice-exceptional student with opportunity for success that directly contributes to self-esteem.
In our lessons a core topic is examined from multiple perspectives in each discipline. Students are able to use and further develop their critical thinking, creative problem solving, reflection, and expression skills. Students are challenged and are able to demonstrate their full potential. Campers leave with confidence in their own abilities and enthusiasm for art and science.   Throughout the week, social issues and study skills are embedded in everything they do. We have been assured by parents and campers that the success they achieve at this camp has done wonders for self-esteem and confidence.
Due to the relatively small number of campers we accept, we are able to interact very closely with the students. We emphasize positive social interaction and value the camaraderie and relaxed atmosphere where friendships are forged.
No wonder our campers want to return every year!
Click on the link below for more information!
http://www.bsu.edu/campdiscoveries/

Did you know that you could be Partially reimbursed for coursework in gifted education?

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 21:32:23 -0400

“The Division of Exceptional Learners’ Priorities for High Ability Education includes the following goal:
Support licensure for all Indiana High Ability Coordinators, High Ability Teachers, and school services personnel responsible for working with high ability students through specified criteria.
To meet these goals, additional funds have been given for the fiscal year 2007-2008 to be used for partial tuition reimbursement for Indiana licensed public school personnel for coursework completed from July 1,
2007 through June 30, 2008. This funding may be used for qualified gifted education graduate courses that could lead to licensure at any university. The fund is being administered through the Center for Gifted Studies
& Talent Development at Ball State University. This funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to qualifying applicants. “ *From Indiana Dept. of Education Website

Click on the link below for an application and information!

http://www.doe.state.in.us/exceptional/gt/docs/ScholarshipApp-070107-063008-rev0907.pdf

Summer Opportunity at Purdue University

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 08:58:48 -0400

*From Purdue Website

The Gifted Education Resource Institute at Purdue University conducts research into the psychology of gifted and talented individuals and effective educational practices for high ability youth. Super Saturday and the GERI Summer Camps, GERI's youth talent development programs, provide challenging learning opportunities and a healthy social environment to a diverse population of high ability children and teens.

A center located in the Department of Educational Studies in the Purdue University College of Education, GERI offers graduate programs in gifted education and a licensure program for K-12 educators in Indiana. GERI also provides training to pre-service teachers through hands-on opportunities and training in connection to Super Saturday and the GERI Summer Camps. Under the leadership of Executive Director Professor Sidney Moon, GERI provides leadership in gifted education, and serves as an advocate for programs and services to high ability students. GERI alumni serve in leadership positions across the United States and abroad and in hundreds of K-12 classrooms.

Go to the website for more information!

http://www.geri.education.purdue.edu/