Center for Talent Development Gifted LearningLinks ... · Scratch Jr (gr K–1) Scratch Jr. is the newest version of the educational Scratch programming language developed by the

Gifted LearningLinks

Individualized Online Courses for Gifted Students

Center for Talent Development

2015–2016 Course CatalogKindergarten – Grade 12www.ctd.northwestern.edu/gllPhone: 847/491-3782 ext.5E-mail: [email protected]

Gifted LearningLinksOnline courses for academically talented students

Power Up!

Welcome to Gifted LearningLinks (GLL), a dynamic online learning program administered by the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University.

Designed specifically for gifted and academically advanced students, GLL’s online courses provide challenging and individualized learning experiences.

GLL programs allow bright students to confidently explore their interests through a wide variety enrichment-focused courses and to accelerate in core subjects areas through our core essentials, honors, and Advanced Placement programs.

What sets Gifted LearningLinks apart from other online educational programs?

• Personal attention from expert instruc-tors. Unlike so-called “click and next” online programs, where students follow a program in isolation, and unlike large online charter schools where a single teacher may serve hundreds of students, GLL supports strong student-teacher relationships through small class sizes and a new online learning platform that makes interacting with peers and mentors fun and intuitive.

• Rigorous courses backed by one of the world’s most respected universities. Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development is independently accredited by AdvancED, all courses offered for high school credit are NCAA approved, and GLL Advanced Placement (AP) courses are approved by The College Board.

• Deep expertise in gifted and online edu-cation. Center for Talent Development is a leading gifted education research center and a pioneer in distance learning. Read more about our research at ctd.northwestern.edu/research.

This catalog introduces our many program options and highlights featured courses for the 2015-16 academic year. We invite you to visit our website at ctd.northwestern.edu/online to learn more about our programs and explore our menu of course offerings updated through-out the year.

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Gifted LearningLinksat a Glance

3Some courses have additional text and/or supply fees. See course descriptions on our website for details.

FAMILY COURSES HONORS ELECTIVES

Kindergarten–Grade 3NEW COURSE SESSIONS BEGIN QUARTERLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Theme-based courses designed around activities that children do with their parents to explore emerging interests. Teachers provide resources and support to parents to help them foster their child’s creativity and cognitive development.

Tuition & fees: $295

See page 4.

Grades 6–12NEW COHORTS BEGIN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

18-week (one semester) courses on topics beyond what is generally available in middle and high schools. Honors Electives allow students to explore potential college majors and future career pathways while earning high school credit.


See page 10.

ENRICHMENT HONORS

Grades 3–8NEW COURSE SESSIONS BEGIN QUARTERLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Nine-week courses for students who thrive on challenges and are eager to explore new topics. The GLL enrichment program is designed to expand learning horizons and encourage positive academic risk-taking through challenging but non-graded courses.


See page 6.

Grades 6–12 NEW COHORTS BEGIN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Credit-bearing, honors-level courses offered in a wide range of subject areas. Courses provide challenging content while developing indepen-dent study skills essential for college success.


See page 10.

CORE ESSENTIALS ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP®)

Grades 3–8NEW COURSE SESSIONS BEGIN QUARTERLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Nine-week courses for students who want to explore core academic subjects at a higher cognitive level. Many students use Core Essentials courses as alternatives to in-school courses in their strength areas, to academically accelerate, or as part of a homeschooling plan of study.


See page 8.

Grades 9–12NEW COHORTS BEGIN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

College Board approved AP® courses equivalent to college-level classes. GLL AP® courses prepare students to take AP® exams through local schools in May for potential college credit.


See page 12.

The most important “social network” for young students is the family.

The Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) Family Program is a series of engaging online enrichment courses for bright children in kindergarten through grade 3 developed with early learning experts at the Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University.

The GLL Family Program is uniquely designed to provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for online learning to younger children. Research on technology use with primary students shows that, while children often find digital media highly appealing, they still learn best through “high touch” experiences rich with social interaction and dynamic feedback. Using and talking about digital media with an adult helps children learn more, feel secure, develop critical thinking skills, and

grow socially and emotionally as well as cognitively and academically.

Therefore, the GLL Family Program was created to plug into the motivating aspects of learning with technology without isolating young students from essential interaction with their families. In the GLL Family Program, teachers design online and offline activities that students and parents do together in theme-based enrichment courses. Parents receive ideas and resources to help students think critically and cre-atively while exploring course content, and our safe, user-friendly online space provides a platform where families can connect with others to share their experiences and where students can share their learning and creativity with new friends.

Admission Requirements: Open to all families with students in grades K–3

Family Program Courses Kindergarten–Grade 3

Fall 2015 • Winter 2016 • Spring 2016 • Summer 2016


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Featured GLL Family Program Courses:Simple Machine Physics: Engineering for Kids (gr K–1)This course makes exploring principles of physics into a “hands-on” experience. Students team up with their parents to create tools, toys, buildings, and vehicles in projects designed to make the physical forces that shape and energize our world visible and accessible to kids. Students develop scientific vocabulary, learn creative problem solving skills, and develop their inventive sides.

Scratch Jr (gr K–1) Scratch Jr. is the newest version of the educational Scratch programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab. Designed to provide a fun and accessible introduction to learning to program, Scratch Jr. is a visual programming language that students use to bring interactive digital stories and games to life. Young programmers and their families will use Scratch Jr. along with traditional methods like drawing, writing and dramatization as they learn to code while developing logical and creative thinking skills.

3-D Thinking: Geometric Thinking & Spatial Reasoning (gr 2–3) Surprising new research suggests that developing visual and spatial reasoning skills in the elementary years gives students a major advantage for future success learning algebra, geometry and calculus. This class will provide opportunities for family members to explore and investigate geometric and spatial concepts in a fun, engaging way by illustrating original 3-D images, creating and solving puzzles, and playing 3-D games.

Backyard Biomes: Exploring Biology & Ecology (gr 2–3) Nature is all around us. This “indoor-outdoor” class invites students to view their backyard or neighborhood park through new scientific lenses. Through observation and experiments, families will investigate how climate, geography, geology, biology, and relationships between species influence the visible and microscopic plant and animal life that shares the ecological niche we each call “home.”

*Course offerings change throughout the year. Visit http://ctd.northwestern.edu/program/family-program for a full list of upcoming Family Program courses.

FAMILY PROGRAM COURSES* GRADES SUBJECT AREAS

SIMPLE MACHINE PHYSICS: ENGINEERING FOR KIDS K–1 Science

KID CHEMISTS: IT'S NOT MAGIC, IT'S CHEMISTRY K–1 Science

3D THINKING K–1 Math

LOGIC & REASONING K–1 Math

SCRATCH JR K–1 Technology

BOOK CLUB K–1 Language Arts

BACKYARD BIOMES 2–3 Science

BRAINS & BODIES 2–3 Science

MATH PUZZLES & GAMES 2–3 Integrated Math and Humanities

GEOMETRIC THINKING & SPATIAL REASONING 2–3 Math

STORY LAB 2–3 Integrated Language Arts and Technology

BIOGRAPHIES 2–3 English & Writing

Most gifted and high ability students benefit from a combination of learning experiences, including accelerated courses and competi-tions that provide challenge and cultivate resourcefulness and perseverance, as well as

“low stakes” opportunities to explore new interests and take positive risks.

GLL Enrichment courses are non-graded courses that allow students to expand their learning horizons and explore topics beyond the core curriculum in a “low stakes” environ-ment where students can feel free to fearlessly

“try on” new fields of interest and where teachers have expanded flexibility to differen-tiate instruction based on each student’s goals, experiences, and desire to learn.

Students gain in-depth knowledge of focused topics through interactive courses that challenge intellect and pique curiosity. Students engage in activities that encourage autonomous learning and develop higher-level thinking skills.

Admission Requirements:• Nationally normed test with score of

90th percentile or above (see website for details) or

• Talent Search participation (e.g. NUMATS, WATS, Duke TIP, CTY, or BESTS) or

• Admission Portfolio consisting of two teacher recommendations and a recent report card

Featured GLL Enrichment Courses:Online Writing Workshop (gr 3–5) Explore your creative side, share your creative writing with others, and receive helpful feedback from an expert teacher and other future authors. This project-based course will introduce new techniques to help you develop lifelike characters, engaging plots, and evocative imagery. Students will also have opportunities to engage in a “workshop” process with other young writers to develop creative works from the “promising idea” stage to fully developed short stories, poems, plays, or non-fiction works.

Raspberry Pi (gr 4–6) Explore the emerging world of smart devices by learning how to program using your very own mini computer, Raspberry Pi. From setup and configura-tion through coding and practical applications, learn the basics of electronic hardware and principles of computer operating systems. Students will learn to build and program a working computer and acquire skills that will help them learn more advanced programming languages through the creation of original projects.

Campaign Trail: Polls, Policy & Persuasion (3 part course, gr 6–8) This thematically integrated modular series of courses explores language arts, social studies, and mathematics through a simulated presidential election campaign. Part 1 (Mapping Opinion), explores how polls and surveys are designed and used to make predictions and help shape political campaigns, and how campaign strategists use data to map trends in public opinion. Part 2 (Policy and Contemporary Issues) explores potential critical issues in the 2016 election campaign. Students choose an issue to investigate in depth and propose and debate policy solutions to social problems. Part 3 (Communication and Persuasion) studies strategies used by candidates, parties, and PACs to influence public opinion through multiple

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Enrichment Courses Grades 3–8

Fall 2015 • Winter 2016 • Spring 2016 • Summer 2016


GLL ENRICHMENT COURSES* GRADES SUBJECT AREAS

ONLINE WRITING WORKSHOP 3–5 English & Writing

THE RESEARCH PROCESS 3–5 English & Writing

GREAT MINDS: EXPLORERS, INVENTORS AND

THINKERS (3-PART)3–5 Humanities

GOOGLE GEOGRAPHY 3–5 Humanities

LET'S TALK MONEY 3–5 Math

MATH BAFFLERS 3–5 Math

CAN YOU MEASURE UP? 3–5 Math

STARRY SKIES 3–5 Science

CATASTROPHIC EARTH 3–5 Science

MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP 3–5 Science

SCRATCH I & II 3–5 Technology

RUBY ON RAILS 3–5 Technology

LATIN I, II & III 4–6 World Languages

GAMEMAKER 4–6 Technology

RASPBERRY PI 4–6 Technology

ONLINE WRITING WORKSHOP 6–8 English & Writing

THE RESEARCH PROCESS 6–8 English & Writing

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: POLLS, POLICY, AND PERSUASION 6–8 Humanities

WHAT ARE THE ODDS? EXPLORING PROBABILITY 6–8 Math

THE ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING 6–8 Math

STOCK MARKET EXPERIMENT 6–8 Math

EXPLORING SPACE 6–8 Science

CONSERVATION SCIENCE 6–8 Science

SKETCHUP 3-D DESIGN 6–8 Science/Math/Technology

BUILDING MINECRAFT MODS IN JAVA 6–8 Technology

COMPUTER GUTS 6–8 Technology

INTERACTIVE WEB DESIGN 6–8 Technology

forms of media. Design and carry out a presidential campaign to persuade Gifted LearningLinks students to elect your candidate in a mock election.

SketchUp 3-D Design (gr 6–8) This course provides a comprehensive and fast- paced introduction to the world of 3-D drawing

and design. Components of design such as color, layout, and composition will be discussed. The course progresses from introductory hands on object design through the creation of more advanced structures using physics and math concepts. Students will develop a capstone project based upon their personal interests.

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*Course offerings change throughout the year. Visit http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/program/enrichment for a full list of upcoming GLL Enrichment courses.

Gifted students are often ready to study topics in their areas of strength earlier than many of their peers. Further, gifted students can often acquire new knowledge and skills with less repetition than typical students. Finally, gifted students are often abstract thinkers whose minds crave opportunities to connect ideas across subject areas.

Gifted LearningLinks Core Essentials courses are designed to provide opportunities for gifted students to master academic content standards in a format specifically designed for the way gifted students learn.

Admission Requirements:• Nationally normed test with score of 90th

percentile or above in the content area or• Talent Search participation (e.g. NUMATS,

WATS, Duke TIP, CTY, or BESTS) or• Admission Portfolio consisting of two

teacher recommendations and a current report card

Featured Core Essentials Courses:Writing Research Papers (gr 6–8) Learn advanced research techniques, sharpen critical thinking skills, and master strategies for organizing and refining high quality non-fiction writing. Students receive detailed feedback from expert instructors and “workshop” papers with peers. This course allows students to research topics of interest in-depth and helps students prepare for success in challenging future high school and college courses.

Energy and the Environment (gr 3–5) Energy-related issues touch the lives of everyone. What is your energy IQ? Using a problem-solving approach, this course challenges students to wrestle with the big issues that will impact our future energy needs. Engaging hands-on explorations provide for mastery of the basic concepts of energy science – work, force, energy, and power, and how those concepts relate to energy used in everyday life. Students simultane-ously learn and apply scientific and mathematical content and processes as they work on personally relevant projects such as designing model alterna-tive energy sources and evaluating options for reducing energy consumption.

Introduction to Pre-Algebra: Data, Statistics & Probability (gr 4–6) Explore how data, statistics and probability are used in the worlds of science, mathematics, business, and social science to understand the world and help predict the future. Projects and practice activities build abstract and quantitative reasoning skills and provide a strong foundation for future success in advanced math courses.

Integrated Middle School Science (gr 6–8) Investigate specific areas of interest and survey branches of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science while learning through hands-on activities and online simulations. Master essential principles, build your scientific vocabulary, and explore potential college majors and careers in STEM-related fields in this fast paced course.

Core EssentialsGrades 3–8


The National Association for Gifted Children identified core principles for modifying standards-based education to meet the needs of gifted students:

Principle: Provide pathways to accelerate for gifted learners. Through GLL’s core essentials program, qualified students can gain early access to courses typically taught at higher grade levels in schools.

Principle: Provide differentiated learning tasks and activities aligned to standards. Activities in GLL Core Essentials courses go far beyond teaching for rote memorization and basic mastery of standards to actively cultivate students critical and creative thinking skills. The online

format also gives teachers maximum flexibility to provide students with choices that match their abilities and interests related to core topics.

Principle: Provide opportunities for interdisci-plinary and project-based learning GLL teachers look for opportunities to connect academic standards with other fields and authentic experiences to help students discover connections between academics and the real world. Project options provide motivating choices for students to pursue their interests within a topic and encourage students to research, write, and communicate across subject areas and develop new technology skills in our online community.

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CORE ESSENTIALS COURSES* GRADES SUBJECT AREAS

ADVANCED GRAMMAR 3-5 English & Writing

ADVANCED WRITING 3-5 English & Writing

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 3-5 Science

INTRODUCTION TO PRE-ALGEBRA: NUMBERS & ALGE-BRAIC THINKING

4-6 Math

INTRODUCTION TO PRE-ALGEBRA: GEOMETRY & MEASUREMENT

4-6 Math

INTRODUCTION TO PRE-ALGEBRA: DATA, STATISTICS & PROBABILITY

4-6 Math

WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS I 6-8 English & Writing

WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS II 6-8 English & Writing

PRE-ALGEBRA: CONDENSED 6-8 Math

PRE-ALGEBRA I 6-8 Math

PRE-ALGEBRA II 6-8 Math

TOPICS IN BIOLOGY 6-8 Science

CONCEPTUAL CHEMISTRY 6-8 Science

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY 6-8 Science

THEORETICAL PHYSICS 6-8 Science

*Course offerings change throughout the year. Visit http://ctd.northwestern.edu/program/core-essentials for a full list of upcoming Core Essentials courses.

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Honors courses provide flexible option for accessing challenging curriculum appropri-ate for gifted students. High school students use GLL Honors courses to customize their academic programs and expand their course choices. These high school credit courses also offer a convenient option for highly able middle school students ready to accelerate to high school level coursework. Each Honors course is equivalent to a two-semester high school course.

Honors Electives provide opportunities to study fascinating subjects through challeng-ing courses rarely available in traditional schools. Honors Elective courses are led by teachers who are experts in their fields. The courses are enticing to students who are passionate about a topic or are exploring possible future academic and career fields. Each Honors Elective course is equivalent to a one-semester high school course.

CTD is accredited by AdvancEd, and Honors and Honors Elective courses are approved by the NCAA, making GLL a good choice for ensuring that credits earned online can be accepted by local high schools and will be recognized for satisfying admissions requirements at colleges and universities.

Admission Requirements:• Qualifying test scores (see website

for details) or• Portfolio consisting of two teacher

recommendations and a current report card

• Prerequisites, if any (see course descrip-tion online)

Featured Honors Courses:Logic & Proof Honors (gr 6–12) Have you ever wanted to know why the math you’ve learned is true? Explore the basic tenets of formal logic and the common methods for writing a proof. Students will be introduced to number theory and set theory during the course, and will learn how to write mathematically. Students should be ready to propose solutions and defend their ideas to their classmates. We learn mathematics by doing mathematics—the goal is the proof process, rather than the answer.

Chemistry Honors (gr 6–12) Using hands-on and virtual laboratory experiences, study key topics, analyze data, draw conclusions and report results. Scientific method, chemical foundations, compositions and reactions, modern atomic theory and electrochemistry are among the topics covered.

NOTE: MAY BE USED AS A LAB SCIENCE FOR IMSA AND

OTHER SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATIONS.

Java Honors (gr 6–12) This is an introduction to object-oriented programming. Using the BlueJ integrated development environment, implement object-oriented concepts immediately and throughout the course. Develop significant experience with classes, objects, and inheritance as you gain understanding of the keywords and constructs of the Java language.

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Honors and Honors Electives Grades 6–12

Embrace the challenge of rigorous high school credit-bearing courses in a flexible online format.


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Featured Honors ElectivesDisorders in the Courts: Issues in Psychology and Law (gr 6–12) Should criminals with mental illnesses or disor-ders be punished using a different set of stan-dards than others? At what point does a mental health pro fessional have an obligation to breach confiden tiality? Explore these and other questions by evaluating legal case studies and reviewing psychological profiles.

3D Computer Graphics Using Blender (gr 6–12) Blender is a 3D modeling software application used by engineers, game designers, and visual artists around the world. Learn how to construct mesh models of everyday objects, design studio - quality lighting rigs, and produce realistic surface textures. Use the skills learned in this course to create digital art masterpieces and stunning scientific visualizations.

Great Battles: 490BC–1991 (gr 6–12) Go behind the frontlines of historic battles. Study the causes of major conflicts, military strategy and technology, and learn how these pivotal events have shaped the modern world.

The Other Side of the Lens: Introduction to Photography (gr 6–12) Users share an average of 70 million photos on Instagram each day. Go beyond the “selfie” to learn creative photographic skills and processes, including terms and techniques specific to professional digital photography. Students will build portfolios of work while they explore the artistry and technology of modern photography.

*Course offerings change throughout the year. Visit http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/online for a full list of upcoming Honors and Honors Elective courses.

1 CREDIT COURSES (18 WEEKS) 2 CREDIT COURSES (9 MONTHS)

English & Writing • EFFECTIVE ESSAY WRITING

• UTOPIA & DYSTOPIA: FUTURES IN FICTION

• GEEK LIT

• AMERICAN SOCIETY THROUGH

CRIME FICTION

• ENGLISH VOCABULARY I & II

• LITERARY ANALYSIS

• WORLD LITERATURE

• CREATIVE WRITING

• EXPOSITORY WRITING

Humanities & Social Sciences

• GREAT BATTLES 490 BC–1991 AD

• PSYCHOLOGY

• PHILOSOPHY

• DISORDERS IN THE COURT:

ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW

• CENSORSHIP

• POLITICS, MEDIA & SOCIETY

• U.S. HISTORY

• WORLD HISTORY

• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS &

CONFLICTS

• WORLD RELIGIONS

• POLITICAL SCIENCE

• LOGIC: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF

ARGUMENT

Mathematics • MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS

• MONEY AND BANKING

• QUANTIFIED WORLD: INTRO TO

DATA SCIENCE

• ALGEBRA I

• ALGEBRA II & TRIGONOMETRY

• GEOMETRY

• PRE-CALCULUS

• LOGIC & PROOF

Science • EPIDEMIOLOGY

• NANOSCIENCE

• FORENSIC SCIENCE

• EXPLORING GENETICS

• MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• BIOLOGY

• CHEMISTRY

• PHYSICS

• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• NEUROSCIENCE

Technology • IOS PROGRAMMING I & II

• 3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS

USING BLENDER

• JAVA

• PROGRAMMING C++

Art • THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LENS:

INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY

World Languages • LATIN I, II & III

• CHINESE I, II & III

• SPANISH I, II & III

Advanced Placement (AP®) courses are college-level courses offered for high school credit. Many colleges and universities grant college credit upon enrollment to students who earn qualifying scores on AP® exams.

AP® courses offered by Gifted LearningLinks are annually reviewed by the College Board and are listed under Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search in the College Board ledger. Students are prepared to take AP® exams arranged through local schools.

Admission Requirements:• Qualifying test scores (see course descrip-

tions online for score requirements) or• Admission Portfolio consisting of two

teacher recommendations and a current report card

• Prerequisites, if any (see course description online)

Featured AP® Courses:AP® English Language & Composition for STEM-focused students (two semesters of high school credit) Designed to align with the AP® English Language & Composition learning outcome objectives while appealing specifically to students interested in pursuing careers in STEM-related fields. A substan-tial subset of assigned readings will focus on topics related to science and technology, and a major project within the course will support students in writing an article according to publication standards for a science research journal.

NOTE: GRADED WRITING SAMPLE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION.

AP® Government & Politics: U.S. & Comparative (2-Part Course) Examine the sources of U.S. government authority and political power, as well as the role of nation-hood, civil rights, civil liberties, public policy and the court system. Learn about comparative politics, based on an exploration of the political frame-works of other nations.

NOTE: STUDENTS MAY SELECT TO TAKE ONE OR BOTH COURSES.

AP® Calculus AB (two semesters of high school credit) AP® Calculus AB includes analytic geometry, functions, limits, continuity, the derivative and its applications, and the integral and its applications.

AP® Physics I: Algebra-Based (two semesters of high school credit) This course is the equivalent to a college course in Algebra-based physics. With an emphasis on science practices and inquiry-based investigations topics include Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits.

AP® Physics II: Algebra-Based (two semesters high school credit) This course is the equivalent of a second semester college course in Algebra-based physics. Topics include fluid mechanics; thermodynamics; electricity and magnetism; optics; and atomic and nuclear physics.

AP®

Courses Grades 9–12

Enroll in Advanced Placement (AP®) courses and gain the flexibility to progress at your own pace.


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*Course offerings change throughout the year. Visit http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/program/advanced-placement-ap for a full list of upcoming AP® courses.

SAMPLE GLL AP® COURSES* SUBJECT AREA

AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION English & Writing

AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION

FOR STEM-FOCUSED STUDENTSEnglish & Writing

AP® ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION English & Writing

AP® ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION

FOR STEM-FOCUSED STUDENTSEnglish & Writing

AP® US HISTORY Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® EUROPEAN HISTORY Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® WORLD HISTORY Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® GOVERNMENT & POLITICS: US & COMPARATIVE Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® ECONOMICS: MICRO & MACRO Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® PSYCHOLOGY Humanities & Social Sciences

AP® CALCULUS AB Mathematics

AP® CALCULUS BC Mathematics

AP® STATISTICS Mathematics

AP® BIOLOGY Science

AP® ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Science

AP® CHEMISTRY Science

AP® PHYSICS I: ALGEBRA-BASED Science

AP® PHYSICS II: ALGEBRA-BASED Science

AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS AND ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM Science

AP® COMPUTER SCIENCE A Technology

AP® LATIN World Languages

AP® SPANISH LANGUAGE World Languages

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What to Expect• Prior to the course start date, students

receive login information allowing them to gain access to the secure online environment that serves as the hub of GLL courses. Syllabi, assignments, timelines, discussion boards, links and more are found on the course site, which is available 24/7. A live online orientation session prepares new students to successfully navigate the course site.

• Students receive ongoing feedback and guidance throughout the course as they engage in a wide variety of differentiated learning activities.

• A summative evaluation is provided at the end of a course. Letter grades are provided for Core Essentials, Honors, Honors Electives, and Advanced Placement® courses that students can share with their schools.

Application ProcessStudents may submit an online application at http://my.ctd.northwestern.edu/. Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. An e-mail will be sent upon acceptance or denial of the application.

Tuition & FeesGLL tuition includes a non-refundable processing fee of $60.00. The full tuition is due with the application, unless applying for financial aid. All monies, including the processing fee, are refunded if a student is denied admission or if a financial aid award offer is insufficient to meet a family’s needs. 50% of tuition may be refunded for course withdrawals if requested in writing within the first 21 days of a course.• Register early to qualify for “early bird”

tuition rates. Applications for Honors, Honors Electives, and AP® courses that are received after the session’s applica-tion deadline may be processed for enrollment in the next program session.

• Some GLL courses require the purchase or rental of books, lab materials, or other supplies that must be purchased or rented separately. GLL’s online book-store at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctd.htm provides a convenient source for purchasing most GLL course materials.

Financial Aid• Need-based financial aid is available

for GLL courses. Early application is encouraged for families requesting financial aid, as funds are limited and granted on a rolling basis. Applications are not considered for financial aid or admission until all documentation has been received.

• A $60 deposit is required to complete the online application. The deposit will be refunded if the student is not admitted or if the aid award offered is not sufficient to meet the family’s financial need.

General Program Information


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In an era of growing school choices and limited budgets, Gifted LearningLinks can help your school expand course offerings and better meet the needs of gifted and advanced students.

Gifted LearningLinks offers special group tuition rates to schools, regional and state education agencies, gifted parent groups, and homeschooling organizations.

GLL’s online learning platform allows local teachers, gifted coordinators, or counselors to communicate with their students and monitor their progress and grades in credit-bearing courses, making GLL courses easy to integrate with in-school learning.

GLL can also partner with schools to create custom course cohorts tailored to your academic calendar.

GLL also offers convenient online profes-sional development programs for K–12 educators facilitated by nationally recog-nized experts in gifted education and talent development.

Learn more about ways Center for Talent Development can help expand opportu-nity for gifted students in your school at www.ctd.northwestern.edu/ partner-opportunities or e-mail [email protected].

Gifted LearningLinks + Local Schools: Partnering for Success

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Documents

Center for Talent Development Gifted LearningLinks ... · Scratch Jr (gr K–1) Scratch Jr. is the newest version of the educational Scratch programming language developed by the