For Educators – Constructivism in the Gifted Classroom

Southern Methodist University

Gifted Students Institute Distinguished Lecture Series 2012-13

Constructivism in the Gifted Classroom

8:30am – 3:00pm

$125

SMU-in-Plano campus

Presenter: Dr. Ann Batenburg, SMU

The most effective way to enhance the education of gifted students is to advance the knowledge and skills of teachers, counselors, librarians, and administrators. To accomplish this, the SMU Gifted Students Institute provides gifted education seminars, workshops and courses covering a variety of topics and concepts throughout the academic year and during the summer.

With the new focus on STEM education, inquiry-based approaches that rest on the Constructivist learning theory have become very popular. But Constructivism is not easy to apply in a classroom setting. This seminar will discuss the basic tenets of Constructivism as a learning theory, its benefits to learning for students, and difficulties that are often encountered in implementing Constructivism in the classroom. Participants will walk away with example lessons of how to apply a Constructivist approach to several content areas, including Math, Science, Literature and Social Studies.

Ann Batenburg, Ph.D., serves as a clinical assistant professor in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Batenburg earned her doctorate in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Gifted Education from the University of Iowa in 2011. She also holds two master’s degrees: one in Special Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, and one in Teacher Leadership from North Park College in Chicago. She teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate teacher education courses with a focus on gifted education.

6 hours Creativity and Instructional Strategies

For More Information

The Gifted Students Institute
Phone: 214-768-4383
Fax: 214-768-3147
gifted@smu.edu