Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT in the U.S. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.
Welcome to Global Gifted and Talented Chat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented @TXGifted#TAGT ~ Thanks for joining us to chat about the “Benefits of Online Learning for Gifted/2e” #gtchat
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate for gifted children, conference presenter, blogger and parent of 2 gifted adults from Pittsburgh, PA. Please take a minute to let us know who you are and from where you’re tweeting! #gtchat
Are you new to Twitter chats? We use the Q1/A1 format for #gtchat … Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation. This will make sure your tweets are visible to other chat participants.
Lurking to learn? Please say ‘hi’ and then view a livestream from Participate Learning at https://t.co/1zR97oWQw0 Enjoy the chat! All the resources and a summary of this chat will be posted later on our blog at https://t.co/BXpCBWEY56#gtchat
Our first question is coming up; let’s get ready to chat! Please preface your responses with A1 Excited to collaborate and share ideas with you today about the benefits of online learning for gifted/2e. #gtchat
A1) Online learning is great for gifted/2E students because they can find the right level pace and depth of learning and meet mentors and other students with similar interests #gtchat
A1 Online learning for gifted students can be a way for these students to study with intellectual peers despite geographical barriers or lack of peers in local area. #gtchat
A1 Online learning has numerous benefits for 2e students who may struggle socially/emotionally to work/study in a regular classroom. The benefit of smaller classes and more individualized learning shouldn’t be overlooked. #gtchat#2ekids
Yes, this. The smaller size, and the fact that so many of the kids are similarly quirky, so apparent misbehavior doesn't have to be the end of the world. It won't freak out the other kids. #gtchat
A2 Parents should take time to research whether their child would benefit from online learning. Participating in a free online class such as Khan Academy or similar program allows the student to experience online participation. #gtchat
A2 I think it's less whether online classes are a good fit but whether *specific* online classes are a good fit. There are so many to choose from now! Diff teachers, courses, programs. #gtchat
Can they use the tech, is the tech appropriate for the learning objective, can the student discipline oneself to get the work done, does the media meet the student's needs? #gtchat
Even then, I think it depends. I'm hearing impaired and I teach online. Some classes really are meant as hands on, but @jadeannrivera makes Chemistry work, for example. Some kids might do better with a one off, not a 16 wk adventure. #gtchat
In reply to
@EcoScienceGirl, @gtchatmod, @jadeannrivera
A2 Consideration should be given to the academic needs of the student and what classes are available. Also, it’s important to determine if classes fit in with long-range goals or may simply be taken for enrichment/passion. #gtchat
A2 A thing to add is that often the ppl at the programs can point families to the programs that may fit them best. For ex at GHFO we cross refer with @OnlineG3 , OpenTentAcademy & @MrGelston among others. #gtchat
I do buy that something needs to change. Perhaps it's funding, perhaps it's resources, perhaps more teachers, perhaps more schools to bring down class sizes / overcrowding. #gtchat
That depends a lot on the course and the student, of course. Some subjects will require more homework or projects than others in order for the kids to really learn. #gtchat
We are already half way through our chat! Thank you for sharing so many inspiring thoughts about the benefits of online learning for gifted/2e! Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation.
#gtchat A3: The time factor should be considered. If the online course is enrichment, the student will have no problem making time, even at the expense of regular school subjects.
A3 Online courses have evolved over time to include online live sessions, opportunities for study sessions, and ability to meet other students from all over the world. #gtchat
A# One thing I like about classes like GHFO is that they can cover both traditional school subjects and also be fun - enrichment - at the same time. #gtchat
Just from reading this, I think teachers experience the same problem. We're busy from sun up to sun down. Sometimes literally. There's little time to get into this groove. #gtchat
A4 Absolutely! It happens all the time. Many of the online programs, including ours at GHFO, work with charters and brick & mortar schools, and have families who are doing both. #gtchat
This comes down to lack of funding, resources. The way I've heard teaching described is that it's akin to being a surgeon / physician who is required to treat 30 patients simultaneously each of whom present different symptoms under varying conditions and ->
levels of willingness of accepting said treatment. Said physician / surgeon is often treating said patients without nursing assistance or attendants, under extreme conditions without proper resources yet must not only heal -> #gtchat
It's great when the instructors are able to help guide kids in the early stages of a friendship, from introduction to finding commonalities, in an online environment. GT and 2e kids often stumble socially, so the guidance is a kind of scaffolding. #gtchat
One of my favorite stories is when a girl in Shanghai wanted to do a group final project so she recruited my son in OR and another student in MA. Three time zones, and they made it work. Outside of class, on their own! #gtchat
A5 GT students work well with intellectual peers, but often don’t have contact with them in real life. When possible and appropriate, students may want to schedule time to meet outside of class or even facetime with classmates/instructors. #gtchat
A6 Take time to make sure a student wants to engage in online classes and has the requisite skills to complete tasks, stay focused, and time to commit to online learning. #gtchat
A6 Involvement on the part of the parents helps - the teacher should be able to work with the parents as well as the kids so everyone is on the same page. #gtchat
A6 Before starting an online class, seriously plan for what to do if things don’t work out. Devise a plan B just in case and hopefully it will never be needed. #gtchat
A6 And be sure to check the program's policies. Most of us want to work with parents, but it's not reasonable to get more than halfway through the class and then ask for your money back. :-) #gtchat
Yes! Make sure the teacher knows what your kid is like - it helps to know whether behaviors are unusual/concerning or typical for your kid. Also allows tailoring of class to kid-specific needs. #gtchat
A6 Parental involvement - I can't say this enough - is SO IMPORTANT. No one teaches in a vacuum, & online classes need parents to help w/ HW, tech problems, communications difficulties, social interactions, learning differences. #gtchat
A6 Some online programs don't handle quirky kids well, and others (like ours!) specialize in them. It really is a matter of fit, and talking to them ahead of time helps find that fit. #gtchat
#gtchat A6: Set a schedule/deadline for completing a certain unit without being too rigid. Allow students to set their own goals and follow through with them.
A6 w/GHFO and @2E_Learning I emphasize that learning isn't a one way teacher-to-student download. It's an experience, and it works best if teacher, parent, student are all part of a learning TEAM. #gtchat
Our next chat will be on Thursday November 15th at 8E/7C/6M/5P US and Friday 16th November at Noon NZST/10 AM AEST/1AM UK. Our topic will be “Disciplining Smart Kids” #gtchat
