Constructing Curriculum to Maximize Growth
How can a teacher develop a curriculum that will benefit a range of students with varying ability and needs? It’s a question continually debated by academics and policy makers alike. Dr. Sandra Kaplan brings her expertise in both areas to her scholarship and award winning service in the field of education. Kaplan’s experience working as a teacher, coordinator, consultant, and president of gifted associations at the state and national level informs her writing and teaching at the University of Southern California. The Center for Talent Development is delighted to welcome Dr. Kaplan as the keynote presenter for our fall Educator’s conference at Northwestern University on Saturday, October 15. She will work closely with educators sharing her approach to differentiating curriculum during her workshop “Differentiation: 8 Key Components.” The topic couldn’t be more relevant given the diminishing pool of resources to support gifted students. What exactly does differentiation do? The crux of differentiation is identifying and meeting student needs. According to Kaplan, differentiation is defined as a response to the cognitive, affective, social, and physical characteristics that distinguish what and how students learn. A classroom where learners are provided with equal opportunity to learn, but are not expected to learn the same curriculum in the same way at the same time is the context that exemplifies differentiation.
For three scholarly opinions on differentiation, visit www.ctd.northwestern.edu/resources/displayArticle/?id=134.
The Center for Talent Development conference is open to all current and future educators as well as other interested in nurturing the potential of our best and brightest young students.
There are many reasons to attend this seminar. Here are just five of them.
1. Enjoy the opportunity to ask questions and seek advice directly from Dr. Sandra Kaplan, Professor of Clinical Education at USC.