Teacher Education for the Global AgeThe Imperative for Change

LONGVIEW FOUNDATION

for Education in World Affairs and International Understanding, Inc.

Betsy Devlin-Foltz, Executive Directorbetsy@longviewfdn.org

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