scholarly journals Constructive Disequilibrium and Transformative Pedagogy

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Nalani ◽  
Christina Gómez ◽  
Andrew Garrod
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
American Students ◽  
Study Abroad Program

In this reflective essay we examined the experiences of a group of students from a small liberal arts college in the United States on a study abroad program to the Marshall Islands to intern as preservice teachers in Marshallese schools. Specifically, we examined 32 students’ critical reflections written once they returned from their programs. We interrogated their understanding of themselves regarding their privilege as American students and the inequality between the two nations. Through their teaching of Marshallese students, they deeply questioned the meaning of privilege, culture, identity, and community. We interpreted these experiences through the lens of transformative learning theory and the notion of constructive disequilibrium. When critical-transformative pedagogies inform these experiences, they nudge students out of their comfort zone and offer them opportunities to consider new possibilities that widen their life trajectories and develop global citizenship. We conclude with advocating for the importance of study abroad experiences.

scholarly journals Catalyzing Cultural and Global Competencies: Engaging Preservice Teachers in Study Abroad to Expand the Agency of Citizenship

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Jon Byker ◽  
S. Michael Putman
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Research University ◽  
The United States ◽  
Global Competencies ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
International Teaching ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
The Impact

Study abroad is an experiential learning pedagogy that has many positive outcomes. In the field of teacher education, study abroad provides opportunity for the development of global competencies and agency. Similarly, study abroad can help expand notions of what it means to be a global citizen. This article examines the effects of preservice teachers engaging in a study abroad program to South Africa. Critical Cosmopolitan Theory provides the article’s theoretical frame for the investigation of the impact of this study abroad program. The study’s participant sample comprised preservice teachers from a large research university located in the Southeast region of the United States ( N = 21). Using a mixed-methods research design, the study examined the participants’ perceptions of their study abroad and international teaching experiences. It was found that the study abroad experience was a catalyst for enhancing preservice teachers’ global competencies, intercultural awareness, and cultural responsiveness as the participants widened their perspectives of what it means to be a critically cosmopolitan educator and citizen.

American Students in Israel: An Evaluation of a Study Abroad Experience

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smadar Donitsa-Schmidt ◽  
Maggie Vadish
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
North American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Jewish Communities ◽  
Foreign Population ◽  
American Students ◽  
Hebrew Language ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this research is to investigate changes in self-ascribed identity among study abroad students in Israel as a result of the time spent in the country, and to examine the gains in their Hebrew language proficiency. Attitudes towards the host country and local culture are also explored for the purpose of better understanding the relationship between students’ identity, Hebrew language proficiency and dispositions about Israel (Gardner, 1985; Giles & Byrne, 1982). Since North America has the largest Jewish community outside Israel, North American students (from the United States and Canada) make up the majority foreign population studying in Israel (Cohen, 2003; United Jewish Communities, 2003). The current study concentrated specifically on North American students taking part in a study abroad program in Israel, seeking to understand how the study abroad experience in Israel influenced students’ identities, attitudes and Hebrew language proficiency.

scholarly journals Global Citizenship Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hinako Kishino ◽  
Tomoko Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Global Citizenship ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
Correlational Design ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Study Abroad Program

The present study examined the development of global citizenship traits in undergraduate students at a liberal arts college in Southern California. Two hundred and sixty-eight students participated in a survey that measured their global citizenship traits. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, the study examined the experience and development of the students as they strive to become global citizens. The results indicated that students face challenges and a sense of discomfort during study abroad, but their global citizenship traits tend to improve after return. Additionally, the study explored students’ perceptions of the curriculum, co-curricular activities, and campus life characteristics. The quantitative analyses suggested that the college’s mandatory study abroad program offers students an opportunity to seek their global citizenship identities.

scholarly journals The Role of Faculty Study Abroad Directors: A Case Study

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Goode
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
North American ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
The United States ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
North American College

This study explores the issues facing study abroad faculty directors at one undergraduate, liberal arts college in the United States; referred to in this article as North American College. This particular college was selected because it had been successful at recruiting its students for study abroad programs: 70% of the graduating class of 2005 studied abroad at some time during their years at NAC.

scholarly journals Innovations in Integrating Language Assistants: Inter-Collaborative Learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
Fumie Kato
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Japanese Language ◽  
Japanese Study ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
One Year ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
Study Abroad Students

A language assistant (LA) program was introduced into a university-level Japanese program. The LAs in this program consisted of Japanese study abroad students, that is English as a second language students, coming to study from Japanese universities for either one semester or one academic year, as well as American learners returning from a one-year academic study abroad program in Japan. In the southeastern region of the United States, the Japanese language is not yet considered a major foreign language, thus few opportunities exist for American learners to connect with native speakers of Japanese. The LA program endeavors to ease this limitation. It has been extremely beneficial for our American learners to have opportunities to communicate regularly with Japanese study abroad students in the classrooms. Furthermore, it was found tremendously valuable for Japanese study abroad students and greatly helpful for the instructors as well. This paper describes the procedures and examines the effectiveness of introducing an LA program into Japanese language classes. To analyze the program, questionnaires were distributed to LAs (N=20); five department instructors wrote comments concerning the program; and five Japanese language learners submitted reflection papers. Analyses of the qualitative data indicate that the LA program has many advantages for everyone participating.

scholarly journals An Interprofessional, Intercultural, Immersive Short-Term Study Abroad Program: Public Health and Service Systems in Rome

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-168
Author(s):  
Sara A. McComb ◽  
Lorenzo Fedele ◽  
Patrick A. Brunese ◽  
Vicki L. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
The United States ◽  
Technical Program ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Study Abroad Program

The purpose of this paper is to describe a short term study abroad program that exposes engineering and nursing undergraduate students from the United States and Italy to an intercultural and interprofessional immersion experience . Faculty fr om Purdue University and Sapienza Università di Roma collaborated to design a technical program that demonstrates the complementary nature of engineering and public health in the service sector, with Rome as an integral component of the program. S pecifically, the intersection of topics including systems, reliability, process flow, maintenance management, and public health are covered through online lectures, in class activities and case study discussions, field experiences, and assessments. Here in, administrat ive issues such as student recruitment, selection, and preparation are elucidated. Additionally, the pedagogical approach used to ensure constructive alignment among the program goals, the intended learning outcomes, and the teaching and learning activitie s is described. Finally, examples of learning outcomes resulting from this alignment are provided.

Institutional Commitment to Diversity and Multiculturalism through Institutional Transformation: A Case Study of Olivet College

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evon Walters
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Liberal Arts Colleges ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
Institutional Transformation ◽  
Institutional Commitment ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
American Council On Education ◽  
American Students ◽  
Changing Demographics

Olivet College is a private, residential liberal arts college in central Michigan that enrolls approximately 900 students. The College was founded in 1844 by abolitionists and was the first college in the nation, by charter, to open to women and people of color. Yet, over the last two decades Olivet College failed to acknowledge changing demographics and problems of intergroup relations. In 1992, a racial brawl involving White and African-American students put the college into crisis. The incident launched the college into a process of reassessment and redefinition that resulted in a major institutional transformation. Diversity was a major part of this initiative. As a result of its success in infusing multiculturalism into its structure, Olivet College was recently selected by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a Model Institution for its diversity initiatives. Additionally, it was selected as one of 35 institutions out of 675 nationwide to participate in President Clinton's initiative on race and was spotlighted by the American Council on Education for its exemplary work in infusing diversity across the campus. This article presents all aspects of Olivet College's diversity initiative including mission, curriculum, co-curriculum, students, faculty, and staff. These strategies are applicable not only to small private liberal arts colleges, but to other institutions of learning as they attempt to create an action plan that addresses the challenge of diversity/multiculturalism in the higher education system.

Learning about Culture and Teaching During a Short-Term Immersion-Based Study Abroad

2017 ◽  
pp. 172-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Bradley ◽  
Andrea M. Emerson
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Culturally Responsive Teaching ◽  
Culturally Responsive ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Responsive Teaching ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Field Placements ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
Summer Study

Culturally responsive teaching is grounded in an understanding of students' cultural backgrounds. However, how do preservice teachers learn about culture? While coursework and field placements can help preservice teachers to begin to understand what culture is, a study abroad program in which participants are immersed in a community and schools can help them move beyond surface-level ideas of culture to a deeper understanding of it. This chapter describes a 4-week summer study abroad program in Italy in which each preservice teacher lives with a host family and observes and teaches in an Italian school. It presents findings from preservice teachers' reflections on culture and teaching based on blog entries. Finally, it provides suggestions for future research related to better understanding and preparing preservice teachers to engage in culturally responsive teaching.

Walk With Me

2020 ◽  
pp. 535-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minda Morren López ◽  
Tara A. Newman
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multilingual Students ◽  
Linguistically Diverse Students ◽  
Community Mapping ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Five Elements ◽  
Literacy Teacher Education ◽  
Study Abroad Program

Effectively preparing teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students has been a persistent issue in literacy teacher education in the United States for the past several decades. To prepare preservice teachers to work effectively with all students, including emerging bilinguals, and to engage in culturally sustaining pedagogies, this chapter presents a form of community mapping authors call “caminatas,” which was implemented in a short-term study abroad program for preservice teachers. Examples are provided of ways in which the caminatas promote culturally sustaining pedagogies for preservice teachers as well as increased understandings of teaching multilingual students through the five elements of revised indigenous framework. It is crucial to provide preservice teachers spaces for working with and alongside their students in local communities to build relationships and knowledge of how to develop culturally sustaining pedagogies with and for their students.

Study Abroad in Graduate Adult Learning Curriculum

2016 ◽  
pp. 215-232
Author(s):  
Robin Rimmer Hurst
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learning ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Graduate Program ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Global Perspectives ◽  
Virginia Commonwealth University ◽  
Changing Demographics ◽  
Study Abroad Program

This chapter illustrates how study abroad experiences can become a key component of an adult learning program. Adult learning educators may face many challenges in the ever changing demographics of the workforce today. Whether a corporate trainer, healthcare professional, literacy and/or English as a Second Language instructor, most adult educators find the need to have a greater understanding of the global environment. Graduate students benefit from international experiences which transform learning by expanding students global perspectives. This chapter explores an inaugural study abroad program in the Adult Learning Graduate Program in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University. The chapter describes both the challenges and reflections of students and faculty while abroad. Malcolm Knowles' Andragogical framework is the foundation of this study abroad experience. Experiential Learning (Kolbe 1984) and Transformative Learning (Mezirow, 1999) are also explored through students' reflections on the study abroad experience.

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