Gifted and Talented Professional Development
UTHS offers online professional development courses facilitated by specialists with expertise in we have online, self-paced professional development course trainings to meet the state requirements for the gifted/talented (G/T) foundational 30-hour training and 6-hour annual updates. These courses have been developed as a convenient and flexible way for educators, counselors, and administrators to engage in high-quality professional development that fits into their busy, student-centered schedules. All course trainings can be taken as an entire series or individually. The G/T courses are not currently available for the TEA reimbursement.
Benefits to Educators:
- Take one or more 6-hr training, based on your individual needs
- Complete the 30-hr G/T foundational training or 6-hr update
- Start the course trainings at anytime
- Work on assignments from anywhere
- Access course materials for up to 60 days
- Receive guidance from a G/T expert
According to the Texas State Plan, a minimum of thirty clock hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, identification and assessment of gifted/talented students' needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted/talented students is required for teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the district's defined gifted/talented services. Teachers are required to have completed the thirty hours of professional development prior to their assignment to the district's gifted/talented services (19 TAC §89.2(1)). Our foundational courses meet and align to the required areas of G/T professional development to meet the 30-hour foundational training. These areas can be found in the G/T FAQ on TEA's website starting in section 4.
The professional development requirement can be located on pages 19-21 of the Texas State Plan.
Ask Us About Our Hybrid and In-Person Training Opportunities!
Professional Development Online Course Policies
Participants have 60 days to complete each online professional development course. However, campus or district administrators who pay for educators to participate in the UTHS online PD courses may request approval for a shorter or longer access period for course completion at the time of enrollment.
Courses
GTC 001 Gifted/ Talented Foundational Training: Nature and Needs (6 hrs)
$80
This course provides the foundational training to understanding gifted students and their needs. Unlock their abilities as a myriad of information about their G/T characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses is explored.
GTC 002 Gifted/ Talented Foundational Training: Identification & Assessment (6 hrs)
$80
Finding G/T students is just the beginning. From the informal methods to the formal methods, teachers need the tools to identify gifted students in their classroom. This course provides assessment measures, identification procedures, and current practices that are being applied throughout the field.
GTC 003 Gifted/ Talented Foundational Training: Differentiating Curriculum (6 hrs)
$80
One-size does not fit all gifted learners. Differentiation must happen beyond the label of giftedness. This course showcases best practices and research-based instruction that can be incorporated into academic content to meet the needs of different types of G/T learners.
GTC 004 Gifted/ Talented Foundational Training: Social and Emotional (6 hrs)
$80
Gifted students come with many affective needs: perfectionism, inner locus of control, overexcitabilities, etc. This course introduces these topics so that teachers can apply best practices to the unique needs of their students.
GTC 005 Gifted/ Talented Foundational Training: Creativity in the Curriculum (6 hrs)
$80
Research shows that strategies that support creativity also support the depth of understanding. This course provides best practices and research-based instruction that infuses the content curriculum with creativity and offers teachers a toolkit for building critical thinkers through creative applications.
GTC 006 Gifted/ Talented for Counselors (6 hrs)
$80
Counselors play a vital role in gifted students’ school experiences. This course provides a look at key characteristics and needs of gifted students, responses to those needs, models for communication, and strategies specific to the counseling process.
GTC 007 Gifted/ Talented for Administrators (6 hrs)
$80
Administrators forge the path for gifted students to receive the education that is best aligned to their students' needs. This course provides the rationale for gifted services, the critical elements for successful gifted services, and tools for accountability of these services.
GTC 008 Social & Emotional Needs for Secondary Students (6 hrs)
$80
Secondary students have many emotional, physical, and social changes that they will experience. In addition, gifted students encounter another layer of complexity in navigating these years. This course provides the research behind the needs specific to gifted secondary students, and how those needs can be addressed in practical ways.
GTC 009 Student-Centered Learning: Voice & Choice, Secondary Edition (6 hrs)
$80
In today’s classroom, flexibility is key to gaining student investment and commitment. This course provides best practices and implementation strategies with content, product, and process differentiation for secondary students.
GTC 010 Student-Centered Learning: Voice & Choice, Elementary Edition (6 hrs)
$80
In today’s classroom, flexibility is key to gaining student investment and commitment. This course provides best practices and implementation strategies with content, product, and process differentiation for elementary students.
GTC 011A: Elementary Gifted Instructional Strategies (6 hrs)
$80
How does proactive student-focused planning and instruction impact the classroom experience? This course builds on foundational learning by diving deeper into practical strategies such as tiered assignments, menus, and instructional learning centers, and also highlights strategies ideal for advanced readers in the primary grades.
What Educators Are Saying
"This course was great. I will definitely be looking forward to using is my GT refresher next year."
"The presenters were great and engaging." - Killeen ISD Teacher (GT In-Person Training)