Teacher Education and Global Perspectives. Current Issues.

Overview & Synopsis

This document seeks to help deans and faculties of colleges and schools of education in the United States develop a global perspective for teacher education. The report explains the urgent need for a global approach to both the general and professional components of teacher education--teaching and learning methods as well as clinical and practical training. The first section, "Global Realities," describes a frame of reference for global education, suggesting that rapidly changing relationships between countries, institutions, and people have created new global realities. In the second section, "The Rationale for Global Education," the case for introducing global education into programs for preparing teachers is presented. This rests upon the certainty of change and the need to redress deficiencies. Recommendations on global education are cited from statements by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The third section, "A Global Dimension for Teacher Education," describes the incorporation of a global perspective into teacher education from the standpoint of institutions, curricula, faculty, facilities, and resources. The final section presents suggested resources for help in developing a globally oriented program of teacher education. (JD)