OCTOBER 25, 2012<\/p>\n
by Erikah Haavie, Contributing Writer<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The first course, \u201cNature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Students,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
The second course in the sequence, \u201cCurriculum & Instruction for Gifted and Talented Learners,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Troy Terry, director of the program, says, \u201cProviding quality graduate credit in this area enables more students to be served in K-12 schools by highly-qualified teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furman was one of a select group of <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n