Gifted/talented teachers to receive training

OCTOBER 25, 2012

by Erikah Haavie, Contributing Writer

Furman’s Office of Graduate Studies has received a $36,043 grant from the South Carolina Department of Education to offer two certification courses in gifted and talented education free of charge to qualified teachers in the Upstate.

The first course, “Nature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Students,” started October 27 with a mix of classroom presentations and online coursework. Tuition, books and materials are provided at no cost for up to 25 teachers per course. In addition, teachers work with iPads and flip-video cameras to create lessons that integrate technology into their classrooms.

The second course in the sequence, “Curriculum & Instruction for Gifted and Talented Learners,” will be offered during both the spring and summer semesters in 2013. Topics will include instruction in methods of identifying gifted students, strategies for differentiating instruction, issues and trends impacting the field, and construction of sample curriculum units for gifted learners.

Troy Terry, director of the program, says, “Providing quality graduate credit in this area enables more students to be served in K-12 schools by highly-qualified teachers.”

Furman was one of a select group of colleges chosen by the South Carolina Department of Education to participate in the 2012-13 program for master teachers pursuing endorsement or certification in gifted and talented education.

For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 864-294-2213 or visit the department website.