UC Irvine Extension Presents Eighth Annual Gifted And Talented Education Webinar Series

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of California, Irvine Extension announces the eighth annual "Gifted and Talented Education Webinar Series" held weekly from Feb. 2 through Feb. 23. Each year, new Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) leaders join this highly successful webinar series to provide participants with a fresh and up-to-date look at current GATE curriculum. The series covers contemporary challenges the GATE community faces and examines potential methods that teachers, parents, and administration can reference when developing curriculum, programs, and interacting with GATE students. For educators participating in full attendance, the webinar series extends the option to receive credit.

"With the GATE community rapidly evolving, UC Irvine Extension strives to provide critical techniques and strategies to maximize the potential of gifted learners," said Angela Jeantet, director of education and business programs at UC Irvine Extension. "These annual webinars provide educational professionals and parents of gifted students the opportunity to gather critical information that will benefit and solidify the educational foundation of GATE students for today and beyond."

The free series will be hosted by four leading GATE educators and professionals who have dedicated their life and career to bettering the educational opportunity of GATE students. Feature presentations include:

• Powering GATE Lessons with Student Curiosity – (Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 4-5 p.m. PST) – Ian Byrd, B.S., leads a captivating session on student concept attainment, inductive thinking, and ways to fire up curiosity as a teacher who builds on students' intuition and curiosity.
• How do I leverage Technology to Enhance Gifted Student Learning? – (Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 4-5 p.m. PST) – Educational technology is an asset in today's learning environment. The webinar, presented by Aaron Maurer, M.S., explores flattening classroom walls and expanding student learning through utilization of 21^st century educational tools.  
• Acknowledging and Supporting the Spiritual Lives of Gifted Children – (Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 4-5 p.m. PST) – Spiritual sensitivity, characterized by profound empathy and exceptional emotional depth, is discussed by Paula Wilkes, Ph.D. She provides strategies designed to help gifted children utilize spiritual sensitivity to build resilience and reduce risky behavior.  
• Teaching Gifted Students Interdisciplinary Concepts – (Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 4-5 p.m. PST) – This discussion, led by Paige McCord, Ed.D., tackles the effects of globalization and technology on world order, creating new imperatives for understanding the nature of how things work and are related. Using interdisciplinary concepts, learn how powerful critical thinkers are developed for the future.

To receive one quarter unit of credit from UC Irvine Extension, participants must attend all four live webinars (total of four hours). A three-page reflection paper written by the participant is required. The reflection will include a summary of what was learned at each webinar while explaining how the lessons can be incorporated into constructive teaching techniques. Additionally, participants must submit a one to two page lesson plan that highlights strategies from a single webinar. The deadline for submission (for credit) is March 23, 2016. Credit will not be given for watching recordings of the webinars.

The UC Irvine Extension Gifted and Talented Education Specialized Studies program provides K-12 teachers with the latest strategies for curricular differentiation. Through focused professional development sessions and online courses aligned with the California Association for the Gifted (CAG), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and state standards for excellence, teachers can grow alongside the evolving GATE community.

Registration is now open. To register for the webinars, visit http://unex.uci.edu/areas/education/gate/?utm_source=Press%20Release&utm_medium=Gate%20PR&utm_campaign=Gate. For further information on this webinar series or the credit option, please contact Lisa Kadowaki at [email protected] or 949-824-9304.  

About UC Irvine Extension: University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, serving adult students online, at the UC Irvine campus, and at employer sites nationally and worldwide. Since 1962, UC Irvine Extension has offered open enrollment learning opportunities to the Orange County community, providing open access to the resources of the university, through Certificate and Specialized Studies programs (found here) and free, open educational resources (http://ocw.uci.edu/). Connect with UC Irvine Extension on the institution's social media channels. 

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 28,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. Located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities, it's Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy.

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SOURCE University of California, Irvine Extension

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