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The International Conference on Special Education -
New Directions & New Communities: Focus on Gifted and Talented Students
Abu Dhabi University – Abu Dhabi Campus, Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 October, 2010
Day 1|Saturday 30th October, 2010 - New Directions
08.00 Registration & Coffee
09:00 Opening Ceremony
09.30 Opening Keynote Address
10.00 Keynote Presentation: Talent for the 21st Century: Pedagogy that Challenges Minds and Motivates Creativity
Professor Kathryn Smith, Instructional Technology/Foundations, Minnesota State University, USA
10:45 Morning Coffee & Networking Break
11:10 Opening Remarks from the Chairperson
11.15 Benchmarking Gifted Students in Main Stream Classrooms: A Case Study
Dr. Osama Maajeeny, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Special Education, Jeddah Teachers' College & Part-time Instructor, Dar Al Hekkmah College, KSA
11:45 Gifted Education in the Arab Countries: Practices and Shortcomings
A general survey of the current status of gifted education in the Arab Countries indicates that there are some successful practices and many shortcomings. The working provisions include the whole spectrum of services such as special schools, pull-out classes, acceleration, pioneer centers and summer camps. The majority of the enrichment materials can be labeled as ‘more of the same’. No licensing or certification study programs for teachers are currently available and no curriculum with scope and sequence has been considered. It is more or less fragmented practices that take gifted and talented students to nowhere.
Dr. Fathi Al Jarwan, Dept. Head and President-elect of the Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented, Amman Arab University for Graduate Studies, Jordan
12:15 Networking Lunch
13.00 Keynote Presentation: Inclusive Education and Gifted and Talented: Meeting the 21st Century
Dr. Joyce Pittman, Online Professor, Nova Southeastern University, USA
13.30 The Importance of Developing and Investing in Gifted and Special Needs Programmes in UAE Schools
Mr. Majed Al Ameri, CEO, Empros Abu Dhabi, UAE
14.00 Integrating Special Needs into Main Stream Classes,
Dr. Hanadi Al Jafari, Educational Advisory Officer for the Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, UAE
14.30 Afternoon Networking and Coffee Break
15.00 The Paradox of Classroom Assessment to Help Gifted Students and Inclusive Approaches: A challenge for the 21st century
Dr. Ghanem AlBustami, Professor of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
15.30 Discussion Forum: New Directions: Inclusion and Giftedness
Panel Members:
- Professor Kathryn Smith, Instructional Technology/Foundations, Minnesota State University, USA
- Dr. Osama Maajeeny, King Abdulaziz University, KSA
- Dr. Joyce Pittman, Online Professor, Nova Southeastern University, USA
- Dr. Fathi Al Jarwan, Dept. Head and President-elect of the Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented, Amman Arab University for Graduate Studies, Jordan
- Mr. Majed Al Ameri, CEO, Empros Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Dr. Lynette Henderson, Adjunct Faculty, Learning Cooperative Masters Programs, Lipscomb University & Educational Consultant for Gifted Students, USA
- Dr. Pearle Nitsche, Founder, Director and Trainer of the SLL Institute, University of Vienna, Austria
- Facilitator: Dr. Ghanem AlBustami, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
16.15 Closing Remarks from the Chairperson and Close of Day One
Day 2|Sunday 31st October, 2010 - New Communities
8:30 Registration & Coffee
8.50 Opening Remarks from the Chairperson
9:00 Keynote Presentation: Addressing Giftedness and Inclusion: New Communities
Dr. Lynette Henderson, Adjunct Faculty, Learning Cooperative Masters Programs, Lipscomb University & Educational Consultant for Gifted Students, USA
9:30 Counseling Gifted Students in Inclusive Schools
Students who are gifted and talented have a wide range of characteristics including intellectual abilities and higher academic achievement. Although these students are generally considered emotionally healthy with self-confidence some feel depressed and isolated and have behavioral problems that affect their schooling. Due to these challenges, counseling gifted and talented students is crucial in helping them accomplish their optimal development and meet their daily life challenges at schools and in society. In this presentation the speaker will outline the characteristics of gifted and talented students, their challenges, educational services, and psychological counseling services offered for them in inclusive schools.
Dr. Ibrahim El-Zraigat, Associate Professor in Special Education, Jordan University, Jordan
10:00 Inclusive Gifted and Talented Models in the UAE and Oman
Dr. Samir Dukmak, Assistant Professor in Special Education, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
10:30 Morning Networking and Coffee Break
11:00 Brain Friendly Accelerated Learning for Gifted & Talented Students
Dr. Pearle Nitsche, Founder, Director and Trainer of the SLL Institute, University of Vienna, Austria
11:30 Developing New Standards: Inclusive Education
Dr. Mohammad Hamza, Professor, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
12:00 Speaker to be confirmed
12:30 Networking lunch
13:30 Discussion Forum: New Communities
Panel Members include:
- Dr. Pearle Nitsche, Founder, Director and Trainer of the SLL Institute, University of Vienna, Austria
- Dr. Samir Dukmak, Assistant Professor in Special Education, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
- Dr. Hanadi Al Jafari, Educational Advisory Officer for the Special Needs Sector, Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, UAE
- Ms. Nipa Bhuptani, Head of Autism Department, Future Center for Special Needs, UAE
- Dr. Lilly Tennant, Associate Professor and Practicum Coordinator, Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE
- Dr. Lynette Henderson, Adjunct Faculty, Learning Cooperative Masters Programs, Lipscomb University & Educational Consultant for Gifted Students, USA
- Dr. Mohammad Hamza, Professor, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
- Facilitator: Dr. Ghanem AlBustami, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
Your choice of parallel sessions:
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Time
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Stream 1
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Stream 2
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14.00
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Total Inclusion: How to Make it Work
Ms. Nipa Bhuptani, Head of Autism Department, Future Center for Special Needs, UAE
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Implementation of Inclusive Models in UAE Schools
Dr. Samir Dukmak, Assistant Professor in Special Education, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
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14.45
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Establishing Gifted Education Programs
In this workshop the speaker will assess the three types of educational services that can be provided for gifted and talented students. These include acceleration, enrichment and counseling services. To establish a program in a school or school district, a systematic action plan needs to be developed and implemented and this will be discussed here. The major issues to discussed include: needs assessment, forming a steering committee and appointing a coordinator, fixing goals and objectives, selection criteria and testing instruments, teachers training, enrichment curriculum development, instructional facilities and requirements, and the evaluation plan.
Dr. Fathi Al Jarwan, Dept. Head and President-elect of the Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented, Amman Arab University for Graduate Studies, Jordan
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Differentiated Instructional Strategies for Gifted Learners
With increasing diversity in the classrooms today, teachers have to respond to the needs of all learners and the notion of “one size fits all” is challenged. Differentiated instruction is a philosophy not a strategy and it is based on the beliefs that students who are the same age differ in their readiness to learn, their interests, their styles of learning, their experiences, and their life circumstances. The purpose of this workshop is to provide teachers some ideas on how to meet the needs of gifted learners in the classroom. A brief overview about the learning characteristics of gifted learners will be discussed. Some examples will be shared on how to differentiate and modify the content, process, and product, in order to meaningfully engage young learners who are bright and gifted in the schools.
Dr. Lilly Tennant, Associate Professor and Practicum Coordinator, Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE
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15.30
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Integrating Technology in G/T Classes
Dr. Joyce Pittman, Online Professor, Nova Southeastern University-USA
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Inclusive Education: Building G/T Learning Communities
Dr. Mohammad Hamza, Professor, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
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16.15
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New Direction: Changing Minds
Professor Kathryn Smith, Instructional Technology/Foundations, Minnesota State University, USA
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Changing Directions in G/T Learning: Reaching Them to Teach Them
Dr. Pearle Nitsche, Founder, Director and Trainer of the SLL Institute, University of Vienna, Austria
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17.00
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Closing Remarks from the Chairperson and End of Conference
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