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ERIC Number: ED515561
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 195
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1096-5480-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Impact on Teachers as Global Educators after a Professional Development Cluster
Modzelewski, Wendy Ramsey
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Wilmington University (Delaware)
This descriptive research study was conducted to determine if the International Education Technology cluster achieved its goals of increasing teachers' international knowledge, skills, and initiatives in global education. A cluster is a focused group of professional development experiences that lead to new knowledge and skills. Clusters are research-based, long-term, and results driven. The concept of a cluster was developed by the Delaware Department of Education to strengthen the impact of professional development. The study group was a diverse group of sixteen educators from elementary, middle and high schools across the state. The teachers participated in an online course offered through the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) and integrated an international student project in their classroom. Correspondence for the project was conducted between all international partners through listservs hosted by iEARN. As the cluster was developed to increase the global education knowledge and skills of the participants, the concepts of both knowledge and skills were gleaned from the literature. A list was developed based on the writings of scholars in this field that included 40 knowledge concepts and 11 skills. From the list, a coding spreadsheet was developed. Data were gathered from the cluster documents using content analysis and conceptual analysis before, during, and after the cluster and approximately 4-5 years later. The results of the study indicate that the cluster was successful in achieving its goals. Participating teachers increased their recognition of both global education knowledge and skills with varying degrees of success. Other findings examined include the primacy of culture and connections between an individual's international travel experiences and their interest in global education. An unintended finding of the study was that the teachers greatly enjoyed the professional development experience and in turn shared their excitement and enthusiasm for learning with their students. This is discussed in terms of Csikszentmihalyi's concept of "flow." [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Delaware
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A