Proposed Cohort Title T&L 644/744 - Understanding the Nature of Talent: reconceptualizing an under/graduate teacher education course as an internet-based experience Abstract The key purpose of this cohort is to rethink and redesign a course offered at KU for over 25 years as an interactive, internet-based educational experience, through a collaboration among teacher education students minoring in gifted education, an experienced teacher/administrator and a novice teacher working in the field of gifted education, and a group of bright high school students with considerable expertise in computer programming and web design. Forming this cohort is timely: The redesign of teacher education in Kansas includes the license for teachers of gifted/talented students, thus necessitating revising the pertinent core courses offered at the University of Kansas. There are fewer universities in Kansas providing courses in gifted education; in addition, there is an increasing demand for teachers in Kansas and Missouri. Traditional delivery systems are inadequate and inappropriate for meeting this need with high quality courses and instruction. There is a mushrooming of web-based resources related to gifted children, but they are not used for instruction in a systematic way, as per a review and informal survey of individuals teaching courses in gifted education at other comprehensive universities. There are a few universities offering reputable web based instruction; however, a review of these courses and conversations with their instructors reveals that they consist essentially of Power Point lecture content with threaded discussions as follow-ups. There are now highly skilled, very able intellectually bright students whose talents and interests are in computing/information technology. Yet, the focus in gifted child education has been on helping teachers develop new technology applications for use in instructing these youngsters, not in finding new, authentic problems for applying their talents. Thus, this project could break new ground: addressing changes in licensure, providing high quality, more accessible graduate education, and involving highly talented youngsters in investigating a real-world issue. Members KU School of Education Faculty Member Reva Friedman-Nimz revacf@ku.edu Teaching and Leadership 421 Pearson Hall University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 785-864-9724 KU School of Education Student Member Becky Halloran Beckhall@ku.edu KU School of Education Student Member Eniola Ajayi hahagirl@ku.edu Field-Based Teacher Member Judith Lacey jlacey@usd497.org Schwegler School 2201 Ousdahl Lawrence, Kansas 66046 832-5860 Field-Based Teacher Member Debra Denson deb453@mail.ku.edu Free State High School 4700 Overland Dr. Lawrence, Kansas 66049 832-6050 Field-Based Student Member Computer Programming Club - specific cohort members to be determined Scope of Work Planning meeting Orientation to KU resources Creating work teams. Teams select modules. Teams meet periodically to assess progress, modify work, assess resource needs, and keep on track regarding timelines. Draft copies of modules circulated and field tested. Presentations of initial work. Evaluations (formative) are ongoing. Presentations to professionals in gifted education; computer/technology experts Summer of 2003 a working version of course is offered as part of KU’s summer school. Revisions of course as needed; structure, web resources, processes, assignments Deliverables White paper Course on a CD Evaluations Conference presentations Reports of project (shared with pertinent authentic audiences within the School of Education - teacher educators, LearnGen staff, teacher education program students - professionals in the field, prospective students) Timeline Cohort Start Date: 4/1/02 Cohort End Date: 6/1/03 Other benchmark or milestones Presentation at the National Association for Gifted Children (November 2002) Presentation at the Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented and Creative Students (September 2002) School of Education Brown Bag (Fall 2002) Brown Bag with LearnGen staff, LearnGen - sponsored presentation to School of Education at large (Fall 2002) Resources The cohort will require use of LearnGen’s software pertinent to the project, technical assistance regarding web-based course design, and assistance in developing a plan for the long-term need of making the course self-sustaining and interactive. Institutionalization/Extension Once the course has been created, tested and refined, it could be offered as a part of the Teacher Education Program, particularly for students interested in obtaining the license. Our current offerings in gifted education are extremely limited, so the course would bring our program closer to the "cutting edge" of undergraduate teacher education programs. The course could then be offered in a variety of formats, requiring only a faculty facilitator. Success with the course could lead to adding other web-based courses in gifted education to our "roster" of courses in the discipline. Evaluation The cohort will administer pre and post surveys and conduct group interviews with the initial group with whom the course is field tested. Cohort members will evaluate course participants’ learning products to ensure that the course is providing the desired level and type of instruction. In addition, the course will be evaluated by experts in gifted education through the National Association for Gifted Children’s Computer and Technology Division. Last, ongoing feedback about the progress of the course will be collected from cohort members to assure the success cohort functioning.

Learning Generation, University of Kansas, 2005.