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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Global Education

Global Education Task Force Report (2003-2004)

The SPARC office has facilitated the activities of the Global Education Task Force and has supported global education activities throughout the college.

A. Members of Global Education Task Force 2003-2004

B. Task Force Goals for 2003-2005

  1. To encourage COE faculty and student interest in global education issues through increased dissemination of information.

  2. To support department/unit initiatives that will allow students to develop “specializations” or special programs of study relating to global education.

  3. To support development and expansion of formal global partnerships and networks of professional colleagues.

C. Global Education Task Force Activities

  1. Departmental Goals Regarding Global Education: Each task force member was asked to serve as a liaison to their department to elicit department specific global education goals for the next two years.

    Outcomes (5 of 8 departments responded)

    SPED
    1) Each year, at least one student in SPED will student teach in a country outside of the US.
    2) Each year, the SPED department will sponsor a professional presenter from another country/culture to address issues in Special Education from a cross-cultural (international) perspective.

    CIM
    1) Include global perspectives in the development and implementation of an information literacy course.
    2)CIM faculty will examine their own course content to determine which courses are best suited to adding Global Studies-related content without curricular change.

    CEEP
    1) To develop relationships with universities from other countries for the purpose of exchanging ideas.
    2) To secure funding sources for faculty travel to other countries for exchange of faculty and ideas.

    ELCP
    1) To seek out and encourage students from other nations to become involved in our programs which will add a global perspective to the courses.
    2) The faculty will endeavor to have students from different parts of the world become more involved in their classes, allowing our students to hear and see how culture affects dealing with issues and the understanding of leadership.
    3) Faculty will encourage students to become involved in international study and experiences that will expand the classroom learning for the program of study.

    CFS
    1) Increase course information and field opportunities of a global nature for our students.
    2) Go through the university curriculum process to add the CFS ELL course, designed by Dr. Own, to the program and include it as a requirement for the GE Emphasis.
    3) Students who desire to add the Global Ed Emphasis to their resumes, will be required to participate in an international field experience which can involve student teaching, service learning, or other coursework.
    4) We will design at least one course (CFS 260) to be available to students via the internet in an attempt to attract students (here and abroad) who may not be able to attend classes.

  2. International Practica, Student Teaching, and Internships

    The Task Force is unanimous in its support for the value of international experiences for students and faculty.

    1. Task Force members were invited to attend a meeting arranged by Theresa Heck in the Office of Clinical Experiences with members of the Renaisance Group to get information about the international opportunities they offer. Dr. Janey Montgomery and Ms. Ceryl Timion met with the group February 5. Several departments expressed interest in working with the Renaisance Group to provide additional opportunities for students.
    2. Two International Student Teaching Sites were utilized during 2003/2004.
      1. Alnwick Castle, under the direction of Bev Kochmann, Teacher Development, 7 students (5 elementary and 2 early childhood) enrolled during the summer of 2004.
      2. Costa Rica, under the direction of Kathy Ofstedal, Child and Family Studies, 5 students enrolled during the spring of 2004
    3. The task force considered the prerequisite “orientation” activities. There was Considerable interest in developing the topics to be covered and the types of activities that students would complete. However, there was no interest expressed by any department in identifying credits that could be used to support this type of orientation. There was concern about faculty/students being expected to have required orientation if there were no credits available. The decision was made to await the outcome of the University international studies committee pertaining to the development of a course regarding global education.
    4. A philosophy statement for international student teaching and an evaluation instrument will be addressed next year by the Global Task Force and other COE committees

  3. Competencies: The Task Force has agreed that during 2004-2005, the task force would work toward developing written global education competencies for students and faculty within the College of Education. A sub-group seems to be the recommended way to proceed.

  4. Global Education Week: Although the Global Education Week, which was sponsored last year, was positively evaluated, there were no volunteers to coordinate a Global Education Week this year. The Task Force can revisit having a Global Ed week during 2004-2005.

  5. Brown Bag Lunches: There were numerous scheduling difficulties this year. Brown Bag Lunches should be scheduled next year, but the Task Force recommends that they should focus on “issues” not countries.

  6. Global Education Awards: Departmental Reports

    In the spring of 2003, departments/programs were asked to submit proposals for global education projects that would be carried out during the 2003-2004 academic year. Two awards were made: Child and Family Studies and Educational Leadership.

    1. Child and Family Studies:This department proposed to develop a new emphasis within the CFS Undergraduate early childhood education program. Several courses will be targeted and revised to serve as global education core courses. In addition, global perspectives will be integrated into numerous other courses to “deliberately lead students to view issues about children, families, and teaching in a broader context. CFS will develop a new course for English Language Learners that would be taught by Dr. Own. Students in this emphasis will be required to be involved in international student teaching and/or service learning activities. The department also committed to designing and delivering at least one course to be available to students via the internet as an attempt to attract students who may not be able to attend classes in the US or on this campus.

      Report: (provided by R. Hasslen, CFS, Chairperson)

      “The CFS faculty all read research and informational texts on distance ed and other technology. There are several faculty who are prepared to begin distance education classes to assist us in providing and education to those outside the geographical bounds of the university. The department faculty will all be participating in technology workshops beginning in August, 2004.

      New international experiences for CFS students were developed. 5 CFS students were part of a pilot cohort that completed one student teaching experience in Costa Rica. 2 students completed one student teaching experience in England. Plans have been developed to send 4-5 CFS students to El Paso, Texas next spring to do service learning and to work on their Spanish before going to Costa Rica to student teaching in 2005.

      In addition, one student is working on a minor and will be doing a semester abroad in Australia and so will qualify for a Global Ed Emphasis from CFS. All of these global experiences have been positively evaluated by CFS students.

      We want our students to graduate with broader perspectives and experiences and have worked on providing them with opportunities for study abroad. The faculty have been unanimously supportive of increasing their own global perspectives and have pursued professional development activities geared to global education. There is strong departmental commitment to continuing to increase global education opportunities for both students and faculty.”

    2. Educational Leadership: This department agreed to open an international certificate “focus” option to all students in their Master’s degree or 6th year program. Each student who chooses to participate in the international focus will need to either write a paper and/or present a paper of finding to each class that they enroll in. The instructor may also require an alternate assignment. This will be for a minimum of 18 credits. After having completed the required coursework assignments, the student will present his/her findings to a minimum of one school.

      Report: (provided by G. Schnellert, Educational Leadership and Community Psychology, Chairperson)

      “The ELCP department, has actively encouraged students from other nations and cultures to join in our programs and take our courses. The EDAD section of the department has had an international certificate program in place for the last year. Two students are nearing the completion of the requirements for the certificate and 15 other students are participating in the international program. Students choose to focus on one country or a region and may present orally or in written format about how a certain country or regions deals with certain aspects of education.

      The ELCP department has met and exceeded its goals in some areas. The department will continue to strive to meet the goals it has set for itself and make the programs more internationally relevant.”

  7. International Networking Institute: The Task Force endorsed the proposal to provide a professional development activity for the College of Education.

    Purpose: To increase the importance of global education within the curriculum of the professional preparation programs in the SCSU College of Education by offering a professional development activity that provides faculty an opportunity to explore worldviews and multiple perspectives about education.

    Strategy: The intent of the International Networking Institute was to provide individualized opportunities for SCSU College of Education faculty to interact with international education colleagues who are engaged in similar academic disciplines. In addition, the Institute would provide speakers and tour opportunities for the participants as a group.

    Project Description:

    Project Co-Directors:

    • Pamm Minden, Research Director, College of Education
    • Bev Kochmann, Professor, Teacher Development, College of Education

    SCSU Faculty Participants:

    • Pamm Minden, Director of Research, College of Education
    • Bev Kochmann , Professor, Teacher Development
    • Glen Palm, Professor, Child and Family Studies
    • Cheri Gilman, Associate Professor, Child and Family Studies
    • Joan Blaska, Faculty Emeriti, Child and Family Studies
    • Judith Rodgers, Assistant Professor, Center for Information Media
    • Ming Chi Own, Assistant Professor, Child and Family Studies
    • Kathy Ofstedahl, Assistant Professor, Child and Family Studies

    Institute Activities

    1. Overview of Schools and School Governance in Northumberland

      Speakers:

      • Marjorie Deakin, SCSU/Alnwick
      • Liz Armstrong, Public school Governor

      School Visits:

      • On-Alnwick South
      • St. Johns
      • Rainbow Day Nursery

    2. Overview of Teacher Preparation

      Speakers:

      • Marjorie Deakin, SCSU/Alnwick
        History of Teacher Preparation at Alnwick Castle
      • Beth Ashforth/Judith Gair
        Qualifying to Teach
        Northumbria University, Coach Campus

      Tour:

      • Beth Ashforth
        Northumbria University and use of technology on campus

    3. Discipline-Specific Faculty Exchange, Northumbria University
      4. SCSU Faculty Interest Northumbria University Faculty
      Glen Palm Fatherhood
      Parent Education       		Lynne McKenna
      Joan Blaska Parental Involvement
      Children's Literature
      (Persons with disabilities)
      		Lynne McKenna, Chris Million
      Toby Brandon
      Anntain Hubbard
      Cheri Gilman Early Special Education
      Assessment of young Children       		Margaret Cook
      Alsion Bishop
      Paul Lunn
      Mike Jarvis
      Ming-Chi Own Literacy
      Early Ed Methods       		Beth Ashforth
      Kathy Ofstedal Early and Elementary Education Mike Jarvis, Chris Million
      Margaret Cook, Alison
      Bishop, Paul Lunn
      Judith Rogers Preparation of School Librarians Anne Middleton, Pat Dixon
      Pamm Minden Global Ed and Higher Ed staff Development Beth Ashforth, John Miller
      Bev Kochmann Elementary Ed Margaret Cook, Alison Bishop, Paul Lunn, Mike Jarvis

    4. Global Education and comparative education
      • Readings
      • Discussion and Analysis
      • Personal goal setting and plans for coming year

    5. Cultural and Historical Experiences
      1. Speaker/Guide: Philip Deakin, Tour of Alnwick
      2. Private Guided Tour: Alnwick Castle
      3. Guided Tour: Contemporary Art Display, BALTIC,
        The Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
      4. Arranged Visit: “The Hundred Languages of Child”
        UK Exhibition at Discovery Museum, Newcastle.
        Young Children’s Art from preschools of Reggio
        Emilia in Northern Italy.
      5. Guided Tour: Farren Islands, Wild Bird Sanctuary
      6. Arranged Tour: Alnwick Castle Gardens

    6. Evaluations: The 8 participants were unanimous in their positive evaluations of the Institute. All 8 have set goals for themselves concerning their global education activities for the next year.

      7. Excerpts from Evaluation:

      • The institute …” focused on me—I set my own goals.”
      • The institute…..”was more collegial and personally more satisfying”…than a conference
      • “I gained more from this than from a regular conference because of the school visits and visit to Northumbria University, and the direct dialogue with other teachers.”
      • “It is absolutely necessary to experience the world first hand to ascertain global citizenship.”
      • “Lots of small groups from SCSU could improve relations across campus by taking such a study trip.”