The Value of International Partnerships in Preparing Teachers: COST's Unique Role
Sherie Klee (Grand Valley State University, USA), Martha Lash (Kent State University, USA), Sharon Brennan (University of Kentucky, USA), and Lynda J. Boyd (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-3848-0.ch005
OnDemand:
(Individual Chapters)
Available
Current Special Offers
No Current Special Offers
Abstract
Schools and colleges of education are preparing teachers to teach in a world that is much more connected than ever before. The teachers prepared for tomorrow's classrooms will need the knowledge and skills to serve a more diverse population of students. Thus, universities responsible for the training of teachers must respond to new needs when preparing those teachers for success by creating culturally conscious teachers. Through the development of an international consortium, preservice teachers can be immersed in culturally diverse teaching experiences, thereby offering them first-hand experience in the development of the skills needed to teach all students in a globally diverse environment. This chapter explores the development of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), including the perspectives of sending sites, receiving sites, and student participants, as well as suggestions for the creation of similar programs designed to meet the need to produce culturally conscious teachers.
TopBackground
Recognizing that the interconnected world in which we now live has created a much smaller community of learners than ever before, numerous experts in the area of teacher preparation have identified the positive influence an international teaching experience can have on a teacher’s development (Brennan & Holliday, 2019; Cushner, 2012 & 2018; Cushner & Chang, 2015; González-Carriedo, et al., 2017; Lash & DeFrancesco, 2018; Madrid Akpovo, 2017; Merryfield, 2000). Increasingly, teachers are crossing international borders to teach while, at the same time, more and more students of various cultures are seeking education in the United States (US National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). These trends highlight the importance of preparing teachers who can address the needs of learners from all cultures. (Russell, 2019; Schleicher, 2012).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cultural(ly) Conscious: A term used to identify a person who has knowledge and empathy for perpetuating acceptance and tolerance for all cultures.
Preservice Teaching: Time spent during the teacher preparation phase through a planned university program.
International Education: Education curriculum or services that extend a student’s knowledge to a global perspective.
Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching: Acronym for Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching.
International Consortium: A group of educators working together to provide placement abroad for students.
Student Teaching Abroad: Field placement experience performed in an international setting different than the student’s home university.