Gifted Learning Links

What is Gifted LearningLinks?
Gifted LearningLinks offers flexibility, independence and innovative learning technologies simply as added benefits; our focus is gifted education.

Center for Talent Development’s Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) offers academically talented students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to take exceptional enrichment, high school honors, AP® and university credit courses in a flexible and interactive online setting.

Students can choose courses in many subjects, including language arts, humanities, mathematics, science, social studies, technology and world languages. All GLL courses are developed and taught, specifically with gifted students in mind, by “live” teachers with content area expertise and experience teaching gifted students.

Please see Program Description for more information.

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Why should a gifted student enroll?
Gifted LearningLinks offers academically talented students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to take challenging courses from inspiring instructors who are experts in their fields. Gifted LearningLinks (GLL), like all Northwestern University Center for Talent Development programs, is built on a foundation of decades of nationally recognized research on how to help gifted students realize their potential. This research emphasizes the importance of outstanding instruction, an appropriate level of challenge and opportunities for independent learning, all key aspects of the GLL program.

Please see the What to Expect and Accreditation pages for more information.

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Who succeeds in Gifted LearningLinks courses?  
The successful Gifted LearningLinks students must be self-starters, with the initiative to begin a course and the persistence to complete it. They must be motivated to work on assignments independently, without prodding. They must have the time in their schedules to work on course assignments on a regular basis.

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Can I take a class while I am in school full time?
Yes. Some students arrange with their school to work on their course during their school day, while others participate from home during their free time.

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Is GLL individualized?
Classes are built on the instructor’s syllabus, but students can expect instructors to differentiate to provide challenge within the context of the class.

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Can you receive credit for Gifted LearningLinks courses?
Yes. Center for Talent Development is an accredited institution, which allows Gifted LearningLinks to grant credit for courses. Still, the acceptance of the credits at a student's school depends upon that school's own policy on the recognition of credit from outside schools.

Please see Accreditation page or the Evaluations & Grades for more information.

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How can I find the prerequisites for a course?
Prerequisites are listed in the course descriptions. You must provide CTD with proof of eligibility when you apply.

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How much time must I devote to a Gifted LearningLinks course?
While independent learning provides students with the flexibility to schedule study time around their other academic and personal commitments, GLL students must be able to devote the appropriate amount of time per week to study for their courses:

Family Program (Kindergarten to grade 2) - 2 to 5 hours per week
Enrichment (grades 3 to 8) – 2 to 5 hours per week
Honors Electives (grades 6 to 12) - 4 to 6 hours per week
Honors/AP (grades 6 to 12) – 4 to 6 hours per week
* Accelerated Summer Option (grades 6 to 12) – 4 to 6 hours per day
University Credit (grades 10 to 12) - 6 to 8 hours per week

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How many courses can I take at one time?
Students may take as many courses as they choose. Important considerations include:
• Amount of time they will have on a regular basis to commit to this course
• Number of events, commitments, vacations days, etc. that will occur during the specific time period.

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Will I finish my Gifted LearningLinks course in nine months? 
Students enrolling in Gifted LearningLinks Honors and AP courses can finish in nine months by allotting four to six hours per week for completion of assignments and by following the instructor’s schedule.

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How much technology experience do I need?
Students are expected to be familiar with standard computer operations. A technology orientation will be provided during the first week of class to familiarize students with Blackboard, the course management system, and Adobe Connect, the web conferencing software that Gifted LearningLinks uses.

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What kind of evaluation do you receive in a Gifted LearningLinks course? 
Evaluation methods and grading criteria are detailed in the syllabus for each course. All students receive a written evaluation from the teacher, detailing the work accomplished and recommendations for further study.

Students taking Honors Elective, Honors and AP® courses receive a grade and written evaluation at the conclusion of the first and second semesters. Upon completion of the course, students receive an official Center for Talent Development (CTD) transcript with their course grade(s).

If requested, CTD will send one evaluation and transcript to a designated school. Additional transcripts will be charged at $5 per address. Please visit the following website to learn how to request a transcript.
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Where do I get information about the AP exam?
You may contact the College Board.

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Admissions

How are Gifted LearningLinks applications reviewed?
The Gifted LearningLinks staff reviews each application submitted in its entirety. All submitted test scores, essays, report cards and teacher recommendations are considered when making admission decisions.   

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What are the admission criteria for Gifted LearningLinks? 
Please see the detailed information about Eligibility requirements.

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Faculty

Who teaches Gifted LearningLinks courses?  
Most Gifted LearningLinks instructors teach the same (or similar type of) course at their local schools or at a college or university.

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Financial Aid

How do I apply/qualify for financial aid? 
Go to Financial Aid.

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Gifted LearningLinks -- Accelerated Summer Option

What is the difference between the Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option and the traditional Gifted LearningLinks classes?
The Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option allows students the opportunity to complete a course in nine weeks, rather than nine months. Students who choose this option can start a Gifted LearningLinks course in the summer and finish it before school starts in the fall.

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What is the time commitment for an Accelerated Summer Option course?
Students in the Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option program are expected to devote four to six hours per day to coursework. Serious commitment is necessary in order to complete a high school honors-level class in only nine weeks.

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Can a student take more than one Accelerated Summer Option class at a time?
Students are limited to one ASO course each summer because of the intensive nature of the courses and the considerable time commitment required by each one.

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How can I obtain the textbook for an ASO course?
Textbooks may be purchased through the Center for Talent Development Bookstore - http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctd.htm. Exceptions are listed in the Course Description. ASO textbooks are the same textbook as the normal 9-month course.
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How do you contact an Accelerated Summer Option teacher?
Gifted LearningLinks teachers will call students and their parents during the first week of the session to answer questions and set up contact times. Please notify your instructor at this time that you intend to complete the course in a nine-week time-frame. If you have not heard from your teacher within the first week of class, please contact the CTD office immediately by calling 847/491-3782 ext. 5 or e-mailing gll@northwestern.edu. Many teachers recommend e-mail as a good way of maintaining contact, but contact methods should be discussed with the teacher during the initial conversation. In addition, teachers' contact information appears on their Blackboard course sites; students should take the initiative to contact their teacher with questions about the course.

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What happens if my child signs up for an Accelerated Summer Option course but is unable to finish it in the allotted nine weeks?
Students who do not finish their coursework in the nine-week timeframe have through March 15th of the following year (nine months from their June 15th start date) to complete their coursework with the approval of the instructor and GLL staff. Requests must be made in writing by August 9, 2010 or two weeks before the ASO course end date.

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What kind of evaluation do you receive in a Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option course?
Evaluation methods and grading criteria are detailed in the syllabus for each course, and each student will receive a grade and written evaluation at the conclusion of the first and second semesters (i.e., at the conclusion of the fifth and ninth week of the course). Upon completion of the course, students receive an official Center for Talent Development (CTD) transcript with their course grade(s). If requested, CTD can send an evaluation and transcript to a designated high school. Please visit the following page to learn how to request a transcript.
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Information for Accepted Students

Does my course require a textbook or other materials?
This depends on the course you are taking and the course instructor. Before you start your course, it is recommended that you check the Center for Talent Development Bookstore - http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctd.htm to find out what you might need. Order your textbooks early, especially if you are an International student. Shipping options are similar to Amazon.com and other online retailers.

Once the course begins, read the course syllabus carefully to prepare yourself for any other items that your course activities might require.

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How do I contact my instructor?
The preferred means of communication for most of our instructors is e-mail. Many instructors will have created a direct link to Blackboard E-mail feature in the course menu on the left-hand side of the screen in your course site.

To send an E-mail to your Instructor,
- Click on the Send E-mail button
- Click on “All Instructor Users”
- Enter the subject of your e-mail and type your message. (You may also attach a file.)
- Click Submit, click OK
A copy of the e-mail will be sent to you for your records.

If an instructor has not made the E-mail feature a course menu option, you may access this feature through the Communication button on the course menu.

In addition to e-mail, your instructor will likely offer an alternative means of communication. You will find specific instructions from your instructor about how s/he would prefer that you contact her/him in the “Staff Information” section of your course site.
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I did not receive an e-mail with a NetID and password. What should I do?
Upon acceptance into the program, all students receive an e-mail with their NetIDs and an Activation Code. This e-mail is sent to the e-mail address provided under “Applicant Information” on the application for admission to the program. Please make sure that you have checked the right e-mail account.

Occasionally, the e-mail may be blocked or filtered by your e-mail program’s spam detector. Check your “Bulk E-mail” box (also called the "Junk" box by some email programs) to see if the e-mail was re-routed there.

If you have checked all possible e-mail accounts (sometimes a parent’s e-mail address is given; other times, the student’s) as well as their corresponding “Bulk E-mail” boxes, please contact C indy Cho or Elfi Sanderson to verify your acceptance into the program.

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Logistics

How and when will my instructor contact me?
Your instructor will contact you by phone during the first week of the session in order to answer any questions you may have and make sure that you have been able to access the course site successfully. You may want to prepare for this conversation and read the Tips for Preparing for Your Instructor's Initial Phone Call. After this first contact, the primary means of communication will be via the course site and email — though the Discussion Board, phone conferences, synchronous sessions using a webcam, and blogs may also be used. It is the students' responsibility to check the course site regularly for new postings and to contact his/her instructor with any questions or concerns.

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How do I contact the Gifted LearningLinks teacher?
At the beginning of a course, Center for Talent Development sends students a NetID and Activation Code, that gives them access to their course site.

Teacher contact information may be found in the Blackboard course site menu under Staff Information. Gifted LearningLinks teachers will e-mail and/or call students and their parents during the first week of the course to answer any questions and set up contact times. Many teachers recommend e-mail as a good way of maintaining contact, but contact methods should be discussed with the teacher at the beginning of the course.

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How do I get the course materials?
Most of the course materials will be provided online. Textbooks may be purchased through the Center for Talent Development Bookstore (http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctd.htm) and other course-specific recommended sources. This information will be supplied once a student is accepted and enrolled in class.

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How do I submit my work/assignments?
Work is submitted through the Blackboard course management system or by e-mail. Your instructor will let you know what works best in the learning environment s/he has created.

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Will I need to log in at a specific day and time?
No. That is the best feature of online learning! Some classes will offer live virtual sessions or chats, but these will be archived for students who are unable to attend so that they can view the session at a later time.

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Program Policies

What if I cannot complete the course in the time allotted?
There are no extensions available for Enrichment courses. Honors Electives, Honors and AP students may submit a written request for an extension. These requests are granted on an individual basis with the approval of the instructor and the Gifted LearningLinks staff. A $75 fee is assessed for each month of the extension. The maximum allowable extension for a class is three consecutive months beyond the original nine-month timeframe.

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What if I miss the deadline to apply?
Applications for Enrichment courses that are received or postmarked after the session’s application deadline must include a $25 late fee. Applications for Honors, Honors Elective and AP courses that are received or postmarked after the session’s application deadline will be processed for enrollment on day 15 of the following month.

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Technology

What technology do I need for the live online orientation or live online class sessions?
We use Adobe Connect Pro web conferencing software for synchronous (i.e., real-time or live) class sessions. Adobe Connect Pro is an internet-based and Adobe Flash-enabled program. Your computer will need Adobe Flash for the session to work properly. Please note that iPads are not currently Adobe Flash-enabled and will not be able to work for the live orientation or other live online sessions that use Adobe Connect Pro.
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How do I log into Blackboard, the course site?
When accepted into GLL, all students receive an email with their NetID and Activation Code. These are necessary in order to log in to the Course Management System (Blackboard).

Please note that the Activation Code you receive from us is a temporary one. You will need to select your password to convert it into a permanent one of your choosing. Passwords will be valid for 120 days and will likely need to be renewed during your course enrollment.

After you enter your NetID and password, you will see a page that looks like this:

Under “My Courses”, you will find the Gifted LearningLinks Welcome site as well as the courses in which you are enrolled. Please take some time to look around the welcome site, by clicking on “Welcome to Gifted LearningLinks.” To enter a course site, click on the name of that course.

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What are the recommended browsers to use with Blackboard?
We highly recommend that our students use the most recent version of Firefox.

You should also check that your web browser is Java- and cookie-enabled and is not set to block pop-up windows.

You may also need to clear the temporary internet files on your computer and make sure that the Privacy settings are set to Medium. Instructions can be found online.

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I was able to log in to Blackboard, but I do not see a link to my course site. What should I do?
Students may not be able to see the course site and access it until the course start date, when the instructor will make the course site available.

If, on your scheduled start date, you still do not see your course listed under “My Courses”, please notify Cynthia Cho or Elfi Sanderson as soon as possible.

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I have my NetID and password, but I am unable to log into Blackboard successfully. What should I do?
Most log-in difficulties are either password- or browser-related.

While almost any browser should work with the Blackboard Course Management System, it has been our experience that some browsers work better than others. We highly recommend that our students use the most recent version of Firefox.

You should also check that your web browser is Java- and cookie-enabled and is not set to block pop-up windows.

Additional support is available online.

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I received an e-mail saying that I need to change my password. Do I really need to do this?
Yes! This is for security purposes. If you ignore this message, your account will be locked. Change your password at NU Validate.

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What happens if I forget to change my password?
If you forget to change your password by the deactivation date in your email reminder, it is likely that you will not be able to log into the Blackboard course site. In extreme cases, your NetID may be deleted, which will cause you to lose your files in your course.

For security purposes, NUIT requires that you change your password approximately every 120 days. If you do not do so, your account will be locked and you will not be able to access your course site.

Change your NetID password using NU Validate. Once you are on this website, enter your current NetID and current NetID password. The "Change Password" page will appear. Follow the instructions to change your NetID password.

If your account is locked, please contact Gifted LearningLinks Program Coordinators so that they can issue you a new Activation Code. Please include your NetID in your e-mail. We will make every effort to issue you a new Activation Code within 36 hours. However, if your NetID completely expires, we may not be able to restore your course documents. In this case, we will only be able to issue you a new NetID.

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How do I change my e-mail address in Blackboard?
The e-mail address used by Blackboard is the one provided under “Student Email (for course correspondence)” on the application for admission to the program. If this e-mail address is not correct, please notify GLL staff as soon as possible. You should not, however, change your e-mail address unless absolutely necessary; a stable e-mail address is crucial for a successful GLL experience.

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How do I submit my assignments?
Your instructor should specify on the Blackboard site how they would like assignments submitted. If you do not find this information, email your instructor.
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How do I access the Discussion Board?
Many instructors will have created a direct link to the Discussion Board in the course menu on the left-hand side of the screen in your course site.

To access the Discussion Board,
- Click on "Discussion Board" in the menu on the left
- Click on the forum you wish to enter (e.g., Student Lounge, Week 3 Discussion Questions, etc.)
If an instructor has not made the Discussion Board a course menu option, you may access the Discussion Board through the Communication button on the course menu.

Learn how to post a message on the Discussion Board.
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I have a question about an issue not listed above. Whom should I contact?
The first thing to do is contact your instructor. If s/he is unable to help, then please refer to the chart below.

Question	Contact
NetID/password	Gifted LearningLinks Program Coordinators
Blackboard Course Managment System	Course Management System support site.
Other	Gifted LearningLinks Program Coordinators

Tuition

Why do I have to pay an application fee if I have been at CTD already?
CTD requires students to pay an application fee each session for a few reasons. Each student's application has to be processed and considered for each session. Information has to be entered, and sometimes updated, in the data base. Each selected course has different qualifications and grade levels. Each applicant has to be assessed as to whether or not their choice is a good match.

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What is the cost of a Gifted LearningLinks course?
Visit our Tuition page.

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