WLHS G/T Advanced Research Program
24-25 APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY 2/16/24
Read the description of the G/T Research program before going to the Application page.
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HCPSS High School Gifted & Talented Program
Both G/T Research courses require student application, teacher recommendations and personal interview for acceptance in the program.
The Gifted and Talented Research Program includes two college-level courses, Independent Research and Intern/Mentor, in which students design an original research study or creative production in a self-selected area of interest. Student research or creative production focuses on contributing new knowledge to the field of study.
The G/T Resource Teacher facilitates classroom and internship experiences, focusing on advanced-level research methodologies, college-level writing, and oral presentation skills.
Students in the Independent Research course attend class on a daily basis, while Intern/Mentor students shadow a professional then apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in an authentic, professional environment.
"Gifted behavior consists of behaviors that reflect an interaction among three basic clusters of human traits 1) above average ability 2) high levels of task commitment, and 3) high levels of creativity. Students demonstrating gifted behaviors are those possessing or capable of developing this composite set of traits and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance."
(Adapted from Joseph Renzulli, UConn)
In the GT Research Program, there is no trait more important than #2, the high level of task commitment. The successful GT student demonstrates initiative, determination and independence in both their thought and in their work. With unwavering task commitment, the student can overcome setbacks, pitfalls, plateaus and writer's block.
Task commitment carries a student's abilities and creativity further than ability or creativity can go alone. Here at Wilde Lake, GT Research students are selected using guidelines as recommended by Peters, Carter & Plucker (2020) article available here
Click on image to view the full program for the 2019 HCPSS Student Learning Conference
Click on the image above to read testimonials from Wilde Lake G/T Graduates
HCPSS Gifted & Talented High School Research Program
Each high school has a G/T Resource Teacher who coordinates the following courses:
Independent Research
Independent Research is a college-level course in which students design an original research study or creative production in self-selected areas of interest. Students learn advanced-level research methodologies and college-level writing and oral presentation skills. Under the guidance of the G/T resource teacher, each student identifies a problem and formulates a research question. Student researchers address identified problems, answer research questions, and communicate the results of their creative achievements to appropriate audiences. Students collaborate and receive ongoing feedback from professionals in their selected areas of study.
Intern/Mentor Program
The G/T Intern/Mentor Program is a college-level course in which students design an original research study or creative production. Students study off-campus with a professional mentor in a self-selected area of interest. Student research or creative production focuses on contributing new knowledge to the field of study. The G/T resource teacher facilitates classroom and internship experiences, focusing on advanced-level research methodologies and college-level writing and oral presentation skills. At the mentor site, students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in an authentic, professional environment. Interested students contact the G/T resource teacher to secure an application and schedule an interview. Placement decisions are contingent upon the availability of mentors in the specific field of study.
Program Goals
The Gifted and Talented Program seeks to recognize and develop talents in advanced-level learners. The following goals are established to offer a continuum of program services for advanced-level learners.
Ensure that gifted education services are an integral part of the general education program.
Provide differentiated instruction and curriculum to continuously improve student achievement and performance.
Provide for the social and emotional needs of advanced-level learners.
Recognize and develop diverse abilities and talents.
Provide comprehensive professional development for its teachers to help them meet the unique needs of advanced-level students.
These goals are based on gifted program standards and content goals of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Maryland Learning Outcomes, and the Howard County Essential Curriculum.
Why are there so many course numbers?
Because students can take these courses repeatedly, they have to assign them new numbers so they get “new credit” on their transcript.
Independent Research:
GT-400-1 – a student enrolling in Independent Research for the first time
GT-410-1 – a student enrolling in Independent Research for the second time (repeating the class the next school year)
GT-420-1 – a student enrolling in Independent Research for the third time (repeating again, for a third school year)
Intern/Mentor:
GT-430-1 – a student enrolling in Intern/Mentor for 1 credit for the first time
GT-440-2 – a student enrolling in Intern/Mentor for 2 credits for the first time
GT-450-1 – a student enrolling in Intern/Mentor for 1 credit for the second time (repeating 430-1 the next school year)
GT-460-2 – a student enrolling in Intern/Mentor for 2 credits for the second time (repeating 440-2 the next school year)
*The High School G/T Resource teacher does not manage or coordinate any kind of placement or instruction related to content areas of Math, English, etc. The G/T content courses are managed by the Instructional Team Leader (ITL) of the individual department.
Jeannette Stanko Dixon
Dixon has been at Wilde Lake High since 1990. A Spanish teacher since 1986, Dixon has a BA in Spanish and MA in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from UMBC including a year of study in Sevilla, Spain and Masters' research in Montevideo, Uruguay. In 2010, she completed the Gifted Education Specialist program at Johns Hopkins University with an additional certification in Administration & Supervision. As of July 2010, she has been the G/T Resource Teacher at the Lake.
Special interests include travel, linguistics, reading voraciously, archaeology and anthropology, ancient history, physiology, being in the outdoors, hiking, camping, kayaking, white water rafting and riding motorcycles with her husband. Skills include fluency in Portuguese and Spanish, survival German, writing and research.
Beyond academics, she is also an accomplished Flamenco dancer, cook and seamstress. She loves to dabble in painting, drawing and makeup artistry. She and her family have hosted AFS students on many occasions and is a proponent of foreign travel, study abroad and gap year abroad experiences. Dixon is the mother of two boys who roamed the halls of the Lake since before they were WildeCats who graduated in '18 & '19.
