Conceptual Clarity and Connections: Global Education and Teacher Candidates

Overview & Synopsis

In this article, we have explored the experiences of students in a teacher education programme designed to promote the effective teaching of global education. Research to date indicates that, although interest is high among teacher candidates, they often lack confidence in their abilities to bring global education into their future classrooms. By examining their understanding of global education, we explored whether the complexity and conceptual breadth of global education contributes to this lack of confidence. Although there are similarities between teacher candidates' understandings of global education and those supported by teacher education programmes, teacher candidates tend to view global education in broader, more vague terms. By limiting the broad concept of global education and encouraging a progressively more nuanced understanding, teacher education programmes can better assist teacher candidates to implement their understanding of global education with confidence. (Contains 2 figures and 2 footnotes.)