Internationalizing Rural Science Teacher Preparation

Book excerpt: This edited volume discusses the need to increase quantity and enhance quality of science education focused on preparing rural students to thrive in an interconnected, interdependent, and complex world. It acknowledges that globally integrated education incorporates local knowledge and culture with global trends. Additionally it highlights globally competent science teaching is not included in most preparation programs, and teachers enter schools unprepared to address students’ needs. Rural schools lack opportunities to keep up with reform efforts and may have limited experiences with diversity, particularly at the global level. These chapters describe globalization in authors’ respective academic institutions by sharing global competence action research projects for preservice teachers. The studies presented were conducted in elementary and secondary science methods, and science content courses. The book’s research is unique as the contributors have carried out action research in science teacher preparation programs and participated in peer discussions that helped them fill gaps in global science teaching while advancing the field of teacher preparation programs.