Teaching global citizenship
Pilot education course has undergrads learning in Ghana from U of A alumnus—who happens to be the village chief
A Faculty of Education course has undergraduate students talking about global citizenship and ways they can bring a global perspective into the classroom once they become teachers.
Eighteen U of A education students took the six-credit course in Ghana over the summer of 2007.
"It was great to be able to take a University of Alberta course at the University of Ghana," said Carley Bowman, who is in her last year of studies in the Faculty of Education.
Bowman was fortunate to get into the course – 70 students applied for 18 spots in the course, taught by professor George Richardson, with Faculty of Education alumnus Kwasi Ansu-Kyereme.
Studying with the village chief
Ansu-Kyereme is the chief of a village of about 300 in the Ashanti region of Ghana. His role in the course was vital, says Richardson.
"Kwasi was able to introduce our students to a world that is totally different," said Richardson, who is associate dean of international initiatives for the Faculty of Education.
"In some of these schools, what you see is what you get," said Bowman. "The students might have a notebook, but there are no textbooks, no posters on the walls."
Turning point for U of A students
In reading students’ journal entries, Richardson witnessed a dramatic shift in his students.
"Their entries showed a rich understanding of where they were and how they'd use this experience. Those entries were the markers or touchstones of the course – the students were quite candid and seeing that growth, at that point, you say to yourself, 'this is working.’"
Richardson was clearly pleased with the effect the pilot course had on the U of A students.
"It will have a profound impact on who they are as teachers," he said.
