Developing a Study Abroad Program for Education Students: International Insights
Location
Ballroom
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
As colleagues in the College of Education, we worked with a larger team from across our university to design and implement a study abroad experience for students that would connect curriculum to larger themes. We drew on constructivist models to design, implement, and evaluate school visits, excursions, and other learning experiences to increase understanding of diversity in various contexts. In this session, we will focus on our experience leading up to and during the study abroad in the summer of 2023. Based on our collaborative work, and our cooperation with other faculty and students, we attempted to build a study abroad experience that would allow faculty and staff to engage in meaningful visits to sites of cultural and historical importance, as well as community- and school-based settings. We navigated cultural differences in partnering with schools and community resources to carry out visits that would enhance the students’ growth as educators. Reflecting on the process, we explore what we can learn from it, as well as how we can extend international connections and develop similar immersive opportunities in our own local community.
Keywords
Study abroad, multilingual education, diverse learners, special education, English as an additional language
Professional Bio
Dr. Alex Reyes is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University and serves as the ESOL Endorsement coordinator. Alex prepares pre-service and in-service teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students to increase equity and access. She draws on her diverse experiences working in P-12 education, non-profit organizations, and higher education (in Connecticut, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia) to direct her service and scholarly interests. These interests focus on the intersections of language, culture, and identity, and how they inform learning experiences for bi/multilingual and other marginalized communities in informal and formal settings.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Reyes, Alexandra J. and Wall, Amanda, "Developing a Study Abroad Program for Education Students: International Insights" (2024). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 17.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2024/2024/17
Developing a Study Abroad Program for Education Students: International Insights
Ballroom
As colleagues in the College of Education, we worked with a larger team from across our university to design and implement a study abroad experience for students that would connect curriculum to larger themes. We drew on constructivist models to design, implement, and evaluate school visits, excursions, and other learning experiences to increase understanding of diversity in various contexts. In this session, we will focus on our experience leading up to and during the study abroad in the summer of 2023. Based on our collaborative work, and our cooperation with other faculty and students, we attempted to build a study abroad experience that would allow faculty and staff to engage in meaningful visits to sites of cultural and historical importance, as well as community- and school-based settings. We navigated cultural differences in partnering with schools and community resources to carry out visits that would enhance the students’ growth as educators. Reflecting on the process, we explore what we can learn from it, as well as how we can extend international connections and develop similar immersive opportunities in our own local community.
