Global Projects and Teacher Education: A Perfect Match
Abstract: Global projects during preservice teacher field work encourage teaching with an international perspective, using collaborative technologies, and interactions with teachers around the world. This study examined attitudes and tendencies of preservice and mentor teachers after they had experienced a multi-school global project for the first time. This study supports prior research showing that project-based learning with technology enhances engagement and promotes deliberate practice in areas such as global awareness, technology use, communication, creativity, and problem solving. Preservice teachers collaborated with global project partners using blogs, video conferencing, e-mail, and other creative embedded digital media while working in areas of literacy, social studies, math, and fine arts. Participants reported positive teacher education experiences, making new personal contacts in other countries, and the desire to engage in global projects again.