The Robert Noyce Teacher Academy at the College of Staten Island developed and implemented international professional development program with the goal to include various experiential learning about several aspects of education in another country that foster constructive and reflective dialogue between educators from different countries about pedagogical practices in STEM disciplines. In the past 8 years, our Noyce scholars and alumni visited Ecuador, Russia, and Morocco to learn about different aspects of STEM education in these countries. Every part of the program was developed in collaboration with local educators and was planned as a combination of presentations/lectures, active immersion of participants into the topic, and collaborative reflection. In each country our participants visited schools to observe STEM classrooms, to meet with teachers and students, and to teach lessons. They visited teacher preparation programs at local universities and participated in pedagogy courses, round-table discussions, and meetings with pre-service teachers and faculty. They met with representatives of ministry of education and experts in educational policy and history of education. They also had a chance to learn about culture and history of each country.

The international STEM professional development experience for our Noyce scholars and alumni opened their eyes to new and innovative approaches to teaching STEM disciplines that many of them were able to transfer to their professional career. At the same time, it provided them with deeper appreciation for diversity and culture in their own classrooms. 

NSF Award(s): 1540704