Published: July 27, 2011
Central Florida Gifted and Talented Institute Presents 'Exhibition of Excellence
The Central Florida Gifted & Talented Institute presents an Exhibition of Excellence - a unique showcase of student achievement featuring robot competitions, displays, virtual novels, presentations, comic books and websites. The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place July 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at USF Polytechnic's LTB Auditorium.
"I am inspired by the amazing products and creative capacity of the students in the program and their instructors," says Dr. Judith Ponticell, regional vice chancellor, assessment and accountability, USF Polytechnic. "It is very exciting that we are able to share the students' accomplishments with family, friends, and community members. These phenomenal students are the future of our communities, and USF Polytechnic is fortunate to have students to work with and showcase their talents in design, creative development, critical thinking, and analytical problem solving."
Sponsored by USF Poly and the Polk County School District, the Central Florida Gifted & Talented Institute is Polk County's only summer day program for gifted and talented students. Featuring four separate programs, it offers innovative, challenging curriculum targeted at active learning for gifted students entering 7th, 8th and 9th grade:
The Hot 2 Bot Applied Robotics Academy immerses students in information technology and engineering robotic concepts as they build two different types of robots, design programming for these robots, explore simple and complex machines, create remote operation devices, discover robotic career opportunities and learn about the impact of robotics on society.****
Sci-Fi High: Where Fiction Meets Reality explores the question "What If?" as it relates to literature, industry, entertainment, innovation, and technology. Students delve into classic and contemporary science fiction themes such as time/space travel, heroes & villains, utopia, technology, and futuristic possibilities. The curriculum is fused with technology, whereby students experience various forms of creative writing and generate original web sites, virtual graphic novels, short dramatic presentations and an online portfolio of their work.
Extreme Green Adventure, an exhilarating outdoor exploration program, lets students experience biodiversity in action and discover man's impact on environmental sustainability. Hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling will provide many opportunities to interact with nature. Experts in the areas of the environment and technology will address a broad range of techniques used to promote sustainability. Students will build a model "Green City" and create public service announcements that promote sustainability through preservation and conservation. The Extreme Green Adventure is designed for students who prefer to step outside the walls of the classroom and into nature.
CSI: If Evidence Could Talk lets students investigate crimes, gather evidence, analyze data, formulate conclusions and solve mysteries. Chemical analysis, blood typing, fiber and plant analysis, gathering and analyzing geological data are among the types of evidence examined.
Instructors have extensive experience in the content and associated skills and represent middle school, high school, and university expertise. Students from throughout Polk County enjoy weekly field trips appropriate to the curriculum.
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