TAGT Convention, Nov. 17-18, 2007
Notes from the 30th Annual TAGT Professional Development Conference for Educators and Parents
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Tx
I got a lot of good information from the workshops I attended, and will share any handouts or information if you are interested.
Sessions I attended on Thursday, Nov. 15
First General Session: "A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students"
Core Area: Law and Policy
Strand: Research, Coordinators, Administrators
Presenter: Dr. Nicholas Colangelo, Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa.
This keynote address focused on the report titled, "A Nation Deceived." The last 50 years of research indicate many positives regarding the acceleration of gifted students. However, there is a disconnect between the research and beliefs on educators and the public. This keynote focused on reasons for the disconnect.
The Internet: A World of Possibilities
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenters: Julie Sanders and Jorge Cavazos, Alief ISD
The introductory paragraph in the program simply states that "technology is a tool that helps gifted students work smarter". What an understatement! I reviewed tools for students - such as Webquests, Virtual Field Trips, Treasure Hunts, and GT games for mind expansion. The best tool I found, though, was to help ME work smarter - called "PORTAPORTAL". It works like DEL.ICIO.US, with the improvement that it allows you to categorize your bookmarks neatly and concisely. I also finally got information on the way to use Wikis and Blogs - as evidenced by this very document. It was time well spent. Check out my new Gifted Tech Portal.
The Internet: A World of Possibilities, Part II
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenters: Julie Sanders and Jorge Cavazos, Alief ISD
This session continued to extend using the Internet as a tool through Interactive Online Activities, Blogs and Video Conferencing. The handouts were very good.
Powerful Blending: Using Web 2.0 to Interact, Create, and Assess
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenter: Vicki Allen, AT&T
Web 2.0 technologies offer options for learners to interact, create content, and assess outcomes of the learning process. Blended learning environments which combine online and face-to-face instruction provide differentiated learning opportunites and rich options for assessment. Examples include social bookmarking, blogs, wikis, podcasting, voice and video enabled tools, photo sharing sites, and document sharing sites.
My favorite new tricks? Google Document, Spreadsheet and Notebook.
COOL-aborative On-Line Projects
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenter: Vicki Allen, AT&T
Jump start your video conference program by connecting your classroom to peers, experts, and communities around the world utilizing existing collaborative, interdisciplinary, interactive, on-line projects such as Journey North, The Tooth Tally, Westward Ho!, National Math Trail, and The Global Water Sampling Project. Resources for finding or creating great projects, unique partners, and strategies for participating were discussed.
Sessions I attended on Friday, Nov. 16
Second General Session: "Solving the Mystery of Talent"
Core Area: Nature and Needs of G/T Learners
Strand: General Interest, The Arts
Presenter: North Wood
This keynote address included the many aspects of talent and from where it stems. Topics included a look at the vision and nature of child prodigies, how they develop inner strength and confidence, and how they must learn to live and cope with change and failure. Mr. Wood performed 'heavenly' violin musical selections to accent his major points throughout the address. Excellent!
Differentiation with the Help of Technology
THE BEST PRESENTATION for Utility
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Curriculum Differentiation
Presenter: John Samara, The Curriculum Project
This session introduced strategies and tools for creating a learning environment that is dynamic, standards-based and student-centered. We learned concrete strategies for differentiating curriculum and assessment, as well as field-tested methods for creating excellent units and rubrics.
Two user-friendly software programs were demonstrated: "Unit Writer", for creating differentiated
curriculum units based on the TEKS, and "StandardWriter" for creating high-end rubrics. I highly recommend these software tools.
Teach Your Students to Self-Assess and Explore with Technology as You Implement an Independent Study and Mentorship Program
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum Program Options/Design
Strand: Student Research, Technology
Presenters: Laura Simpson and Di Ann Hill, Frisco ISD
How to use an Independent Study and Mentorship program to provide a flexible environment for exceptional learners that allows for self-education and optimal pacing to meet individual students' needs. Utilize technology tools to encourage discovery and self-assessment and add depth and complexity to self-directed student learning.
Real World Connections: Science, Technology and Society
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Science, Technology
Presenter: Angie Kornele, Science Solutions
Science gives children a means by which to explain events that take place in their everyday lives. The relationship between science, technology and society was discussed, as well as the Learning Cycle and the WOW factor. The best part of the session was the handout which gave many valuable websites to investigate.
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Tx
I got a lot of good information from the workshops I attended, and will share any handouts or information if you are interested.
Sessions I attended on Thursday, Nov. 15
First General Session: "A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students"
Core Area: Law and Policy
Strand: Research, Coordinators, Administrators
Presenter: Dr. Nicholas Colangelo, Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa.
This keynote address focused on the report titled, "A Nation Deceived." The last 50 years of research indicate many positives regarding the acceleration of gifted students. However, there is a disconnect between the research and beliefs on educators and the public. This keynote focused on reasons for the disconnect.
The Internet: A World of Possibilities
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenters: Julie Sanders and Jorge Cavazos, Alief ISD
The introductory paragraph in the program simply states that "technology is a tool that helps gifted students work smarter". What an understatement! I reviewed tools for students - such as Webquests, Virtual Field Trips, Treasure Hunts, and GT games for mind expansion. The best tool I found, though, was to help ME work smarter - called "PORTAPORTAL". It works like DEL.ICIO.US, with the improvement that it allows you to categorize your bookmarks neatly and concisely. I also finally got information on the way to use Wikis and Blogs - as evidenced by this very document. It was time well spent. Check out my new Gifted Tech Portal.
The Internet: A World of Possibilities, Part II
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenters: Julie Sanders and Jorge Cavazos, Alief ISD
This session continued to extend using the Internet as a tool through Interactive Online Activities, Blogs and Video Conferencing. The handouts were very good.
Powerful Blending: Using Web 2.0 to Interact, Create, and Assess
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenter: Vicki Allen, AT&T
Web 2.0 technologies offer options for learners to interact, create content, and assess outcomes of the learning process. Blended learning environments which combine online and face-to-face instruction provide differentiated learning opportunites and rich options for assessment. Examples include social bookmarking, blogs, wikis, podcasting, voice and video enabled tools, photo sharing sites, and document sharing sites.
My favorite new tricks? Google Document, Spreadsheet and Notebook.
COOL-aborative On-Line Projects
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Technology
Presenter: Vicki Allen, AT&T
Jump start your video conference program by connecting your classroom to peers, experts, and communities around the world utilizing existing collaborative, interdisciplinary, interactive, on-line projects such as Journey North, The Tooth Tally, Westward Ho!, National Math Trail, and The Global Water Sampling Project. Resources for finding or creating great projects, unique partners, and strategies for participating were discussed.
Sessions I attended on Friday, Nov. 16
Second General Session: "Solving the Mystery of Talent"
Core Area: Nature and Needs of G/T Learners
Strand: General Interest, The Arts
Presenter: North Wood
This keynote address included the many aspects of talent and from where it stems. Topics included a look at the vision and nature of child prodigies, how they develop inner strength and confidence, and how they must learn to live and cope with change and failure. Mr. Wood performed 'heavenly' violin musical selections to accent his major points throughout the address. Excellent!
Differentiation with the Help of Technology
THE BEST PRESENTATION for Utility
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Curriculum Differentiation
Presenter: John Samara, The Curriculum Project
This session introduced strategies and tools for creating a learning environment that is dynamic, standards-based and student-centered. We learned concrete strategies for differentiating curriculum and assessment, as well as field-tested methods for creating excellent units and rubrics.
Two user-friendly software programs were demonstrated: "Unit Writer", for creating differentiated
curriculum units based on the TEKS, and "StandardWriter" for creating high-end rubrics. I highly recommend these software tools.
Teach Your Students to Self-Assess and Explore with Technology as You Implement an Independent Study and Mentorship Program
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum Program Options/Design
Strand: Student Research, Technology
Presenters: Laura Simpson and Di Ann Hill, Frisco ISD
How to use an Independent Study and Mentorship program to provide a flexible environment for exceptional learners that allows for self-education and optimal pacing to meet individual students' needs. Utilize technology tools to encourage discovery and self-assessment and add depth and complexity to self-directed student learning.
Real World Connections: Science, Technology and Society
Core Area: Differentiated Curriculum
Strand: Science, Technology
Presenter: Angie Kornele, Science Solutions
Science gives children a means by which to explain events that take place in their everyday lives. The relationship between science, technology and society was discussed, as well as the Learning Cycle and the WOW factor. The best part of the session was the handout which gave many valuable websites to investigate.
