Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellowship

In 2010, the NEA Foundation partnered with renowned education leader, the Pearson Foundation, and designed a cultural and educational exploration program to enhance the teaching and learning experience for the NEA Foundation’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recipients, which resulted in a study-tour to China. At the conclusion of the trip, both Foundations realized this was more than just cultural exploration; it was an opportunity to deepen educators’ understanding of the skills they and their students will need to be successful in the interconnected global economy. Over the years, the program has evolved to include an intentional focus and understanding of the global competencies students need.

Global competency is an intentional focus on and understanding of:

• Investigating the world beyond one’s immediate environment;
• Recognizing multiple perspectives;
• Communicating ideas effectively with diverse audiences; and
• Taking action to improve conditions students need, to thrive in the 21st Century.

The NEA Foundation believes that in order for students to prepare for the global age, the educator must first be equipped with the knowledge, skills and disposition needed to teach in the global age. The Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellowship program expands on the NEA Foundation’s mission to advance student achievement by investing in public education that will prepare all students to learn and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Over the course of one year, Fellows are supported by the NEA Foundation staff, partners, and other field experts, as they work through the following:

• Readings and webinars to introduce global competence and country specific concepts;
• Online coursework on global competence, country specific concepts, and interactive language learning;
• A two-day professional development workshop with sessions led by leaders in global competency and country-specific knowledge; and
• A study-tour designed to focus on the themes of global competence, education (both practice and issues of international, national, and state policy) and economics.

In 2013, Fellows will tour Brazil, from June 20-27. Visits to schools in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are designed to provide educators with structured opportunities to observe classroom instruction and to interact with teachers and administrators. Fellows will also have opportunities to investigate Brazil’s historical and cultural significance.

Fellows will complete an online course to provide them with a framework to contextualize their experiences in Brazil by examining the impact of its historical and cultural legacies on contemporary society and educational system. Each Fellow will also receive basic Portuguese language training complimentary of Rosetta Stone.

At the conclusion of the Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, educators begin working on a final project to create a lesson plan, unit plan, or full curriculum integrated with global competency skills. By creating this plan, and then sharing with educators around the world via an open source platform, Fellows are contributing to an increasing field of knowledge on this topic. Furthermore, the Fellows become positioned to lead the profession by becoming advocates for global learning and global competence within their schools, communities, and districts.