All courses and workshops required for the Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development will be available online. No out-of-state tuition will be required for completion of these courses/workshops. Typically, these classes have no additional technology fees.
Participants begin the concentration by taking any of the Core Courses required to better understand children who demonstrate above-average abilities and require appropriate catalysts to develop talent commensurate with potential. A total of 12 hours must be completed within the core requirements.
| Course Name |
Semester Hours |
Introduction to Educating Gifted Students
or
Psychology of Giftedness |
3 |
| Identification of Students for Gifted Programs |
3 |
Curriculum Concepts for Gifted Students
or
Program Models in Gifted Education |
3 |
| Academic Acceleration |
3 |
Participants select a minimum of 4 semester hours of Electives from the approved courses that will enhance their professional knowledge and skills. Different options are available each semester, fall, spring, and summer.
| Course Name |
Semester Hours |
| Counseling and Psychological Needs of Gifted Students |
1 |
| Cognitive and Affective Needs of Gifted Students |
1 |
| Ethnic and Cultural Issues and Giftedness |
1 |
| Gender Issues and Giftedness |
1 |
Special Readings and Projects *
(*content for Special Readings varies by semester; may be taken a
maximum of 2 times for the Certificate)
|
1 |
| Differentiated Instruction for the Gifted |
1 |
| Differentiation at the Secondary Level |
1 |
| Math Programming for High-Ability Students |
1 |
| Reading for High-Ability Students |
1 |
| Science for High-Ability Students |
1 |
| Social Studies for High-Ability Students |
1 |
| Programming/Curriculum for High-Ability Students |
1 |
Topics in Teaching and Learning*
(*content for Topics varies by semester; may be taken for a
maximum of 2 semester hours for the Certificate) |
1 or 2 |
| Administrative and Policy Issues in Gifted Education |
2 |
| Current Readings and Research in Gifted Education |
1 |
| Global Trends in Talent Development |
1 |
| Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank Fellowship Program in Gifted Education (available only on campus; applications accepted every February)
|
2 |
Additional courses and workshops may be added as electives, and face-to-face workshops may be accepted for the Global Professional Development concentration if participants have the opportunity to attend classes provided by Belin-Blank Center faculty. If participants have completed semester hours in the field of gifted education from other colleges/universities, the Belin-Blank Center will consider requests to accept a maximum of six (6) semester hours.
The final semester hours in the Global Professional Development concentration are dedicated to the Practicum in Teaching and Curriculum Development in Gifted Education, a capstone experience. Generally, two semester hours of practicum—one at the elementary level and one at the secondary level—are required.
Practicum will allow participants an opportunity to demonstrate greater professional knowledge and skills developed throughout their coursework. Practicum includes core readings, as well as readings of choice essential to the completion of each participant’s individual goals/projects. The course incorporates either observations of high-ability children in meaningful settings or hands-on work with children in talent development programs. Each one semester hour of practicum includes approximately 15 “clock hours” of reading, 15 "clock hours" dedicated to goals and culminating in appropriate projects, and 15 "clock hours" observing or working with children in talent development programs.
Practicum experiences may be arranged in local settings, in combination with online interaction with the instructor; however, practicum participants are encouraged to arrange their practicum experiences at the Belin-Blank Center, allowing them to team teach with educators recognized for their excellence in both their content areas and interaction with high-ability students; arrangements can be made in either June or July for practica in talent development programs at the Center for various ages across the disciplines.
Following completion of all requirements for the Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development (with either a grade of "Satisfactory" or a B- or better) and upon approval by the Belin-Blank Center, a recommendation will be made to award the certificate of completion to the participant. The student will receive the Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development: Global Professional Development from the Belin-Blank Center and will be invited to the annual Recognition Ceremony at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
