- Internship Organization Introduction: Purdue University Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I)
The Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I) is part of Purdue University’s College of Education and was established by John Feldhusen in 1977. The center’s main goal is to research and develop human gifted potential. With this focus, (GER2I) not only offers various enrichment programs for gifted students, but also provides research opportunities for future scholars and supports professional development for gifted education practitioners.
- Internship Tasks
1. Serve as a counselor, assisting the team in helping students adapt to camp life.
2. Participate in activity design, adding fun and cultural diversity to the camp.
3. Discuss with the team and make strategic adjustments for students’ behavioral issues.
4. Attend classes and observe the implementation of gifted education programs in the United States.
- Internship Gains
◊Unlimited Classrooms◊
- If You Give a Scientist a Cookie…
After explaining the topic from a scientific perspective, the teacher takes the students to the food lab, where they work in groups to prepare food and conduct experiments. This offers not only knowledge learning but also hands-on practice and opportunities for trial and error.
- Art and Science of Color and Design
In addition to artistic creation, the teacher encourages students to explore their minds and express themselves freely through various themes and methods, such as dream paintings, associative paintings, and non-structured paintings.
◊Creative Activity Planning◊
In the camp activities, there are not only group activities that allow students to interact and bond, but also many activities that enable students to unleash their creativity without restraint:
- Global Gala
In this open-enrollment performance event, students can showcase any talent, skill, or cultural background on stage. The audience will give applause and encouragement without hesitation, showing respect and inclusiveness, creating a supportive environment for one another.
- Dutch auction
Each team must demonstrate creativity and eloquence to convince judges and the audience that the item they hold matches the designated item. This not only showcases teamwork but also stimulates students’ imagination.
◊Affective Curriculum◊
Affective Curriculum is conducted separately in small groups, with 3-4 sessions per week. The themes are mostly situations that gifted adolescents may face, such as self-identity, extreme emotions, interpersonal interaction, and career exploration, etc.
- Specific Benefits
- Practice and apply special education knowledge and concepts in a real environment.
- Improve foreign language skills in a long-term, full-time, and English-only environment.
- Get to know participants and partners from different countries and regions, experiencing cultural diversity.
- Step out of the comfort zone and learn to be independent in aspects like daily life and schedule arrangements.
- In cross-cultural exchanges, learn to introduce Taiwan’s cultural characteristics and historical development.
- Internship Suggestions
- Strengthen English speaking skills before the internship; also, be courageous in communicating during the internship.
- If you want to participate further in courses or activities, be proactive in seeking opportunities from the hosting organization.
- Immerse yourself in local customs and lifestyles, understand the popular cultural trends, interact and communicate with others actively, and you will gain unexpected rewards!