EPGY courses use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous, CD-Rom and Internet technologies to provide students with a robust educational experience. EPGY courses are designed with gifted students in mind. Students are never forced to sit through exposition of material that they already understand. Morvover, the courses offer good flexibility, meaning that students who demonstrate ready mastery can move quickly through a course, while slower learners will receive additional instruction.
InfoKids instructors help students and parents by electronic mail and virtual classroom instruction to assure appropriate support for every student. EPGY courses use sophisticated data collection and analysis techniques to make it possible for instructors to keep detailed records of the individual progress of each student.
EPGY's goal is to present gifted students with the chance to take courses suitable to the level of their ability, regardless of the availability of such courses locally. Because the EPGY courses are computer-based, students can take advanced courses regardless of where they live, and without leaving their normal school environment. Within the context of this goal EPGY strives to deepen and improve the nature of computer-based learning instruction. Courses are regularly revised based on data collected on student performance. We also evaluate new technologies as they become available and incorporate them into the EPGY courses when we feel it is appropriate to do so. In this way we continue to improve upon the quality of the educational experience we provide.
The fundamental mode of presentation within a course is a "lecture" consisting of digitized sound accompanied by synchronized graphics. These lectures try to capture the informal nature of classroom instruction, in contrast to the more formal style found in textbooks. Furthermore, the lectures are given by actual instructors in a real classroom. Following these lectures are on-line exercises which may be either quizzes, during which the student answers questions about a lecture, or interactive expositions in which a student answers questions while being led through detailed arguments step by step. Students also complete off-line work, the nature of which depends on the type of course. Secondary and advanced mathematics and physics courses also employ on-line derivation and theorem proving exercises, for which students verify mathematical facts in a symbolic computation environment. Such exercises ensure that students know both how to solve problems and why their solutions are correct. Some courses also include advanced exercises using the Maple symbolic computation program. Expository Writing courses have additional off-line work consisting of long and short essays.
Each EPGY student is assigned to a course instructor who is available to that student for tutorial support by electronic mail or virtual classroom. Instructors monitor student progress, review student assignments, and help identify particular student difficulties that can be addressed in tutorial sessions. The EPGY instructors at InfoKids have been chosen for their thorough knowledge of the subject and their dedication to teaching, particularly in using technology to provide a high level of support. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this resource.
EPGY students who want to work more intensively with an instructor, in a small group, are encouraged to enroll in the EPGY Virtual Classroom. Students connect via voice and shared-whiteboard conferencing software to create a real-time interactive version of the EPGY lecture environment. The virtual classroom gives students a robust electronic forum in which they can interact with instructors and with other students.
The EPGY course software runs under Windows 95/98/NT. The recommended system is a 90mhz Pentium or better with at least 16 MB RAM, 40 MB free on the hard drive, a 16 bit sound card, CD ROM, and a modem or network connection. Internet email access is required and WWW access is strongly encouraged. The EPGY course software will also run on Macintosh OS computers running windows emulation software.
The amount of time students spend working on the computer each week will vary depending on the level of the course and the ability of the student. Students in the K-7 mathematics sequence should attend the one hour lecture and spend at least 3 days per week doing 20 minute sessions on their homework. Depending on their grade level, students in the secondary school level courses and above should spend 5 to 10 hours per week working on course material. This commitment corresponds to the amount of work expected in a standard class that meets 5 days per week for an hour with 45 minutes of homework per night. While rates of progress will vary, EPGY students are required to meet a minimal progress schedule, and those who fail to do so will be dropped from the program.
Students receive a transcript from InfoKids bearing the seal of Stanford EPGY, as a record of each course completed and grades received. Students who want to receive credit from their own high schools or middle schools should talk to their school officials before enrolling in EPGY. Students who take courses beyond the advanced placement level may be able to apply these courses to their undergraduate degrees. The Stanford Faculty Senate has declared that "for the period September 1, 1998 through August 31, 2001, students who complete advanced EPGY courses and matriculate as undergraduates at Stanford may use these credits towards their bachelors degrees." (SenD#4906, Thirty-First Senate, Report 5, January 21, 1999.) Students who attend other universities will have to transfer courses from CSP. The decision to accept these courses rests with the university in question.
The Education Program for Gifted Youth for students residing in Hong Kong can be directed to InfoKids by phone at (852) 2504 2228 (voice) or (852) 2504 2669(fax). Internet inquiries should be directed to epgy@infokids.com.hk. Correspondence should be addressed to InfoKids at 6/F Catic Plaza 8 Causeway Road Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
To qualify for EPGY, students need to demonstrate that their ability places them within the top 15% of the population. This can be done in a variety of ways. Students applying to EPGY must submit the results of an AHSME, AJHSME, ACT, PSAT, PLUS, ERB, SCAT, or SAT. Advanced Placement Examination scores may be used in place of SAT scores by students taking college level courses. Students applying to take Expository Writing courses must also submit a writing sample. Additional supporting materials may be submitted with the application if desired. Students who do not have any test score reports can still qualify for EPGY mathematics by submitting a teacher recommendation and by taking the EPGY Mathematical Aptitude Test. A detailed statement of the admissions requirements may be found in the EPGY Admissions Policy statement.
Instructions on applying to EPGY are found here. Once a student is admitted to the program, confirmation will be sent by mail. Students will begin courses at prescribed dates. Applications should be sent at least one month prior to the proposed starting date, and complete registration materials should be submitted at least two weeks prior to that date.