The global teacher

Multicultural Education:A Challenge to Global Teachers

The Global Teacher

Confucius

“All men are pretty much alike. It is only by culture that they

are set apart.”

What is

“the values, traditions, social and worldview shared by a group of people bound together by a

combination of factors.” (Derman and Sparks)

Culture?

Diversity of Learners and

“the major goal of multicultural education is to transform the school so that the male and

female students, exceptional learners, as well as students coming from diverse cultural, social-class, racial and ethnic groups will receive an

equal opportunity to learn in school.” James Banks

Multicultural Education

Students may differ in:

Race Ethnic or religious groups Economic status Languages spoken Family background Some could be stricken by poverty,

unemployment, relocations, etc.

In order to do this, we need:• Curricular and instructional modifications

• (Different) Teaching styles

• Re-examination of teachers’ attitudes, beliefs and perception

In the midst of this diversity, students are supposed to receive equal opportunities

to education.

This movement calledMULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

enables teachers and educators to give value to the differences in prior

knowledge, experiences of learners from diverse background and familiarity with students’ histories of diverse cultures.

(Haertel, 1998)

Goals ofMulticultural Education:

Develop and foster a democratic and just society where all groups experience cultural democracy and empowerment

Improve academic achievement of all students

Help the students to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to function within their own and other micro cultures, and within global community

Provide opportunities to gain cultural competency

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How do we achieve these GOALS?

To achieve these goals, it is very important for teachers to be

knowledgeable about differences in cultures, religion, ethnicity, and even the

language spoken by the students.

Suggestions to understand multi-cultural learners: (Fraser-Abner, 2001)

• Learn as much about and become as sensitive to and aware of racial, ethnic, cultural and gender groups other than your own

• Never make assumptions about an individual based on their perception of that individual’s race, ethnicity, culture or gender

Suggestions to understand multi-cultural learners: (Fraser-Abner, 2001)

• Avoid stereotyping

• Get to know each student as a unique individual: Walk in the footsteps of all your students

Other suggestions include:• Look into your own conscious and subconscious biases

about the people who are different from yourselves

• Plan your activities within a multicultural framework while making your classroom a safe and secure place for all the students

• Infuse multicultural instructional materials and strategies in your teaching

• Foster collaboration and cooperation among your learners, parents and teachers

“a caring environment will always

enhance academic achievement.”

Broadening Teaching Perspectives:Teacher Exchange Programs

The Global Teacher

Ben Sweetland

“We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without

brightening our own.”

What is a

“opportunities for teachers, school administrative and support staff to work

overseas and interstate to exchange ideas and knowledge and to observe different educational

practices.”

Teacher Exchange Program?

Teacher exchange programs enhance professional development and

broaden perspective.

What are these PROGRAMS?

Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF)

• US’ largest cultural exchange program for teachers and schools started 19 years ago.

• Offers highly qualified teachers worldwide to serve as teacher and cultural ambassador in the US.

• Teachers participate for up to three years and then return home to their country to share international experiences with students and colleagues.

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VIF intends to ensure that students, educators and communities worldwide reap the benefits of

international educator.

They believe that…• All schools should have at least one international

exchange teacher.• All students should be exposed to a variety of

exchange teachers during their academic careers.• All communities should have an equal opportunity to

develop globally literate citizens to help build a foundation for success in the global marketplace.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program

• Started in 1946 to promote mutual understanding between the United States and countries around the world

• For U.S. teachers and involves a year or semester of direct exchange with a counterpart in another country teaching the same subject at the same level

• 30 countries including Philippines currently participate in the program, and in Philippines, it is managed by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation

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Inter-African Teacher Exchanges

• Provides opportunities for African teachers to learn from teaching environments in other African countries

• Aims to extend experiences by encouraging exchange visits to countries outside Africa as well

• On startup year, African teachers exchange visits within schools in another African country. The teacher will travel to work for over a period of two weeks after which, they will engage in different activities by pairs

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Canadian Educators Exchange• Non-profit foundation

• Offer educators and their students an opportunity to broaden their understanding of one another’s cultures, customs, and languages

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Two kinds of exchanges for powerful professional development experiences:

• One Year Exchanges• Short-term Exchanges (during spring & summer

holidays)

Global Teachers Millenium Awards

• Contributes to the quality of teachers worldwide though it is limited only to participating countries

• Commits to improving the quality of education in South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, and the U.K., and promotes partnership between North and South African countries

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The program aims to:• Change the lives of UK educators, personally and professionally

by encouraging them to fulfill their aspiration and use their talents in innovative ways

• Ensure benefits for staff and pupils of UK schools and their local communities through the dissemination of innovative development education

• Support the aims and activities of Link’s educational programs in South Africa, Ghana and Uganda

• Set a standard and develop a model for other similar scheme

These programs give teachers the opportunity to live their personal and professional lives

in another context, in another setting, in another country, thus strengthening their

skills in understanding diversity and multiculturalism.

Educational Technology and

Innovative Teaching

The Global Teacher

T. Richardson

“Technology does not replace people – it enables people; it only replaces people when they do not

know how to wield it.”

Diversity of learners

Multiple teaching perspectives from exchange programs

Breakthroughs in technology

By these factors, we could achieve

INNOVATIVE TEACHING, and it is one of the answers to meet global demands for

quality education.

From curricula of facts-based,

memorization-oriented tocurricula in which learning with understanding and more active involvement are emphasized.

Roles of technology in achieving the goal of learning for understanding

• Technology provides support to the solution of meaningful problems

Microworlds which are simulations or exploratory environments which allow students to carry out actions, observe result immediately and do lots of investigations.

Roles of technology in achieving the goal of learning for understanding

• Technology provides support to the solution of meaningful problems

• Technology acts as cognitive support

• Technology promotes collaboration as well as independent learning

Technology Programs for Teaching• Stand-alone programs

Technology Programs for Teaching• Stand-alone programs

• Programs available on the internet

Knowledge Integration Environment which teaches students to think of web information and evaluate it critically.

Technology Programs for Teaching• Stand-alone programs

• Programs available on the internet

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit Environment (GLOBE Program) which involves students in gathering data about local environment and creating databases.

Technology Programs for Teaching• Stand-alone programs

• Programs available on the internet

Electronic Field Trip is a communication technology which allows learners to travel and visit places for global explorations.

Technology Programs for Teaching• Stand-alone programs

• Programs available on the internet

• Information databases

Encarta and Grollier which provide learners access to vast information

Performance Indicators: 

1. Technology operations and concepts

2. Planning and designing learning environments and experiences

3. Teaching, learning, and the curriculum

4. Assessment and evaluation 5. Productivity and professional practice

6. Social, ethical, legal, and human issues

With substantial knowledge, skills and appropriate attitude in the use of technology, we can apply innovative teaching strategies in our

classroom.

Thanks!

SittiJhoe