FAQ

What G/T Research Programs are offered at Atholton High School?
What is the Independent Research Course
What is the Intern/Mentor Program?
What do I need to do to take a G/T Research class?
What is a seminar?
What if a mentor/advisor is not located for my child?
How many hours does my Intern/Mentor student spend at the mentor site?
Do the students need transportation?
What class is appropriate if a student does not have a career interest in mind
What assignments are required in the G/T research courses?

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 What G/T Research Programs are offered at Atholton High School?
The Intern/Mentor Program and Independent Research Course are the two G/T 
research classes offered at each high school in the Howard County Public 
School System.
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 What is the Independent Research Course
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 presentations 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.
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 What is the 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 reasearch methodologies 
and college-level writing and oral presentaions skills.  At the mentor site, 
students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in an authentic, 
professional environment.
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 What do I need to do to take a G/T Research class?
To apply to the Independent Research Course or the Intern/Mentor Program: 
1.  Download the application from this website.  
2.  Complete & submit the application by the due date listed on the 
application.
3.  Schedule an interview with Mrs. Kelly in G/T office located in the Media 
Center.
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 What is a seminar?
 Seminar is a class for the Intern/Mentor students.  The students receive 
instuction regarding their research, product and public speaking
assignments.  Seminar is held every other week so the G/T resource teacher 
can provide the intern/mentor students with instruction and guidelines 
regarding research assignments.  The syllabus includes dates the students 
must attend seminar.  
They do receive a mentor hour for attending class that day.  Normally, 
seminar is held in the Media Center.  See the syllabus document in 
the "Handouts" link on my website for the 2007-08 seminar dates.
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 What if a mentor/advisor is not located for my child?
Every effort will be made to place each student in an internship 
working with his/her mentor as quickly as possible. Finding quality 
mentors in some fields can be exceedingly difficult, and, in some cases 
impossible given the severe shortage of mentors in those fields and extreme 
competition from other in-county, out-of-county, and college programs. In 
rare cases, students may be asked to select another class instead of the 
Intern/Mentor Program.
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 How many hours does my Intern/Mentor student spend at the mentor site?
Each student is required to attend his/her mentor site for 4-5 hours a 
week.  
It averages out to be about 40 hours per quarter.
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 Do the students need transportation?
Students in Independent Research do NOT need transportation.  Students in the
Intern/Mentor Program MUST provide their own transportation.
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 What class is appropriate if a student does not have a career interest in mind
Independent Research
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 What assignments are required in the G/T research courses?
Download the syllabus from the "Handouts" link on the website.
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