College of Education

International Programs
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Preparing Students to Teach and Lead in a Diverse, Globally Connected World

It has never been more important for educators and other professionals engaged in the field of education to be globally conscious and equipped to instill global competency in their own students. Through engagement with international students, institutional partnerships, on-campus international programming, study abroad opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students, and research with visiting scholars, we prepare globally conscious citizens, teachers, administrators, researchers, and policymakers who are ready to confront the global challenges and embrace the worldwide possibilities of our time.

News

  • New Initiative Brings Asian American Authors to Champaign Schools

    May 17, 2021, 13:00 by Ben Zigterman, News-Gazette Media
    In a virtual visit to University Primary School on Friday, a Chinese American author read from her latest picture book and shared how she grappled with feeling different growing up in a small Ohio town.
    Full story

  • In-Demand Endorsement Trains Teachers of Emergent Bilinguals

    Oct 14, 2020, 14:43 by Tom Hanlon
    The need for a bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement has never been greater in the state of Illinois, and the College of Education is helping to fulfill that need through a fully online endorsement program for practicing teachers.
    Full story

  • Resilience in Education: Reflections from Studying Abroad in New Zealand

    Feb 12, 2020, 16:33 by Asmaa Elsayed & Ashley Lawrence, College of Education
    In summer 2019, Education at Illinois’ Office of International Programs partnered with the University of Canterbury to launch its first study abroad program in New Zealand. Asmaa Elsayed, PhD student in Global Studies in Education, led the first New Zealand study abroad experience for Illinois students.
    Full story

Events

Faculty Research Spotlight: Dr. Carolina Cuesta

Champaign , USA
Education Room 192

Education Room 192

Event Type: Lecture

Title: PISA 2022 Creative Thinking: Implications, Opportunities, and Risks 

Abstract: Since 2000, OECD’s PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) has served as a global standard for evaluating education systems by testing the competencies of 15-year-olds across participating countries and economies. The latest edition of PISA introduces an innovative assessment of a critical 21st-century skill: creative thinking. This assessment, the largest of its kind, examined creativity in over 140,000 students from more than 60 countries, offering unprecedented insights into how this essential skill is being developed—or neglected—in educational settings worldwide.

Creativity is increasingly recognized as a vital driver of intellectual, social, cultural, and economic growth. Despite its importance, there is still ambiguity among educators and policymakers regarding how to effectively nurture creative thinking in the classroom. The data from PISA's creative thinking assessment provides an invaluable opportunity to develop targeted strategies, refine educational practices, and enhance professional development for teachers. However, this opportunity also brings risks. The potential for misinterpretation and poor operationalization of this data could lead to conflicting findings, intensifying confusion around the true nature of creativity and how best to cultivate it in educational environments. In this presentation, I want to explore these challenges and propose actionable strategies for discussing and fostering creativity in the classroom.

Location: Education Rm 192

Zoom: Meeting ID: 871 9736 2325 / Password: 652316