Teacher Education for the Global Age The Imperative for Change LONGVIEW FOUNDATION for Education in World Affairs and International Understanding, Inc. Betsy Devlin-Foltz, Executive Director [email protected]
Dec 12, 2015
Teacher Education for the Global AgeThe Imperative for Change
LONGVIEW FOUNDATION
for Education in World Affairs and International Understanding, Inc.
Betsy Devlin-Foltz, Executive [email protected]
The Goal: Globally Competent Students
Knowledge of and curiosity about world history, geography, culture, environmental and economic systems, & current global issues
Language and cross-cultural skills to communicate effectively with people from other countries, understand multiple perspectives, & use primary sources from around the globe
Commitment to ethical & responsible citizenship of their own communities & the world
The Challenge: Teachers Need Global Expertise
Knowledge of the international dimensions of their subject matter & a range of global issues
Pedagogical skills to help students analyze primary sources from around the world, appreciate multiple points of view, recognize & address stereotyping
Commitment to assisting students become responsible citizens of the world & their own communities
The Context
• Many states are working to change policies and practices to promote global knowledge and skills
• Increasing numbers of internationally themed schools
• Higher education internationalizing
The Context
To Leave No Teacher Behind: Building International Competence into the Undergraduate Training of K-12
Teachers Ann Imlah Schneider
• Global knowledge and skills are not systematically integrated into teacher education programs
• Nearly 100% of current teachers supported globally oriented general education requirements for per-service teachers
• Practicing teachers expressed regret that they had not studied a language during their preparation
Teacher Preparation for the Global AgeThe Imperative for Change
• February 2008 meeting of deans, faculty, international education professionals
• A scan of what is being done to internationalize teacher education
• Identify promising practices
• Recommendations for the field
Promising Practices
Create a Globally Oriented Education Culture • Leadership• Plan--integrate global knowledge and skills
into all program areas• Recruit teachers and teacher educators with
international interests• Engage faculty, including advisors• Reward global expertise• Assess impact of innovations
Promising Practices
Deepen Global Content Knowledge
• Globally focused general education program• Collaborations: Schools of Education, Title VI
Centers, Colleges of Arts and Sciences• Partner with globally oriented non-profits,
community & cultural organizations
Promising Practices
Internationalize Professional Education • Social Foundations of Education• Child Development• Teaching English Learners• Instructional Methods Courses or Workshops
in all subject areas• Technology in Education
Promising Practices
Embed Education for Global Expertise into Teaching Practice
• Create professional learning communities• Provide coaching and mentoring by master
teachers and teacher educators• Internships, student teaching, professional
visits to internationally-themed schools and classrooms
Promising Practices
Promote International Experiences Abroad…• Provide study, service learning, student
teaching abroad opportunities for pre-service teachers
• Encourage international research for teachers and teacher educators
• Use international benchmarking; share best practices
Promising Practices
…Promote International Experiences Abroad
• Provide significant pre-departure orientation
• Expect and support in-depth engagement with host community
• Connect the experience to teaching practice
Promising Practices
Promote “international experiences” at home
• Create structured activities with international students
• Engage visiting faculty and other international visitors
• Promote service learning or other field experiences with organizations serving immigrant communities in the US
Promising Practices
Offer international experiences online
• Use Internet based primary sources from other countries
• Develop virtual field experiences• Create distance-learning courses open to
students and teachers from around the world
Promising Practices
Strengthen Programs for World Language Teachers
Update pedagogy to focus on:• Oral proficiency• Cultural competence• Use of technology• Early language • Language immersion
Promising Practices
Strengthen Programs for World Language Teachers
Increase the number of world language teachers, especially in less-commonly taught languages by:• Training more native and heritage language
speakers• Offering flexible scheduling, online courses,
credit for international credentials
Challenge to All Stakeholders
• Teachers• Principals and superintendents• Higher education• State and local education entities• National accrediting agencies• Professional associations of teachers and
education leaders• Public and private funders
Teacher Preparation for the Global Age: The Imperative for Change
www.longviewfdn.org