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International Perspectives in Education
Featured here is a summary of recently acquired titles that provide international perspectives on education and allow teachers to learn from the experiences of their colleagues across the globe. To access these and other materials, visit http://library.ata.ab.ca to set up your ATA Library account. With your account, you can request materials that will be mailed to you free of charge; return shipping will be prepaid. No matter where you are in Alberta, teachers can access the same resources from our library as Edmonton-based teachers.
Changing Teacher Professionalism: International Trends, Challenges and Ways Forward
Gewirtz, Sharon (editor). 2009. New York: Routledge (371.12 C456)
The social and political environment of teaching has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. This collection of essays from scholars around the world discusses these changes and considers their effect on teacher practice worldwide.
Comparative and International Education: Issues for Teachers
Mundy, Karen E., et al (editors). 2008. Toronto, Ont.: Canadian Scholars’ Press (370.9 M965)
Scholars present global education practices and explore issues such as the philosophy of comparative education, the right to education, teacher development, alternative pedagogies, the treatment of gender, international assessments, indigenous knowledge, peace building and global citizenship.
Designs for Learning Environments of the Future: International Perspectives from the Learning Sciences
Jacobson, Michael J., and Peter Riemann (editors). 2010. New York: Springer (371.33 D457)
Technology is driving developments and opportunities to advance innovative learning environments. International teams of scholars present ideas of how new learning technologies can be applied and the classroom challenges that may arise.
Educating Children in Conflict Zones: Research, Policy, and Practice for Systemic Change
Mundy, Karen E., and Sarah Dryden-Peterson (editors). 2011. New York: Teachers College Press (371.826914 M965)
Violent conflicts affect the ability of 40 million children every year to attend school. The book’s contributors discuss the challenges of delivering high-quality education to these children and provide insight into projects in war-torn countries to maintain a semblance of the education system.
Education in the Creative Economy: Knowledge and Learning in the Age of Innovation
Peters, Michael, and David Araya (editors). 2010. New York: Lang (338.4337 A663)
In the growing creative knowledge economy, workers don’t need to be loaded with more knowledge; rather, they need to be skilled in acquiring and creating knowledge. Preparing students for this new economic model requires a major redesign of objectives and goals for the education system. This book challenges teachers to reconsider how they are preparing students to develop these skills.
Education: Past, Present and Future Global Challenges
Patrinos, Anthony, and George Psacharopoulos. 2011. Washington, D.C.: World Bank (370.1 P314)
This research paper looks at the influence internationally of unequal levels of human capital acquisition and how improved access to education can advance economic development.
Education, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers
Demirdjian, Lala (editor). 2011. New York: Continuum International (371.826914)
The Arab Spring (2010) and ongoing conflicts within and between nations have given rise to a high number of refugees and asylum seekers. The authors adopt a holistic interpretation of education and examine both formal and informal schooling of children and adults.
Even in Chaos: Education in Times of Emergency
Cahill, Kevin M (editor). 2010. New York: Fordham University Press (379.26 C132)
Experts from around the world look at the effect of natural disasters and war on education and discuss what is needed to help students, teachers and the educational process in times of social chaos.
Global Education: Using Technology to Bring the World to Your Students
Peters, Laurence. 2009. Eugene, Ore.: ISTE (370.116078P482)
Communications technology creates new and inexpensive opportunities to develop relationships with people worldwide. Examples of teachers using technology to connect with classrooms and teachers from other countries are discussed. Case studies and lesson plans are included.
The Hidden Crisis: Armed Conflict and Education
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 2011. Paris: UNESCO (379.26 H632)
This UN report looks at how armed conflicts cause and spread education crises. The average length of an armed conflict in low-income countries lasts 12 years—the opportunity to educate whole generations of children can be lost. This report recommends that governments strengthen education systems and develop the role of education in the peace-building process.
The International Handbook of Collaborative Learning
Hmelo-Silver, Cindy E, et al (editors). 2012. New York: Routledge (371.395 S587)
This handbook assembles research and theory from educational psychology, instructional design, learning sciences, educational technology and socio-cultural studies to provide a coherent picture of collaborative learning for teachers and researchers.
Islam in the School Curriculum: Symbolic Pedagogy and Cultural Claims
Thobani, Shiraz. 2011. London, U.K.: Continuum International (297.07041 T449)
The teaching of Islam in Western schools is not well understood by those outside these schools. Thobani explores how Western politics and teaching practices affect school-based Islam in secular and liberal settings.
School Food Politics: The Complex Ecology of Hunger and Feeding in Schools Around the World
Robert, Sarah A., and Marcus Weaver-Hightower. 2011. New York: Lang (371.716 R644)
Feeding school children has become a growing issue in developing and first-world nations. This book explores the political debates about who is fed in schools, what they eat and who pays for it.
Shaping a New Educational Landscape: Exploring Possibilities for Education in the 21st Century
Coates, Max (editor). 2010. London, U.K.: Continuum International (370.1 C652 2010)
Education usually follows rather than leads social change. In this book, writers speculate about our collective future and how schools might lead, support or react to these pending landscapes.
Sport Education: International Perspectives
Hastie, Peter A. (editor). 2011. London, U.K.: Routledge (613.7042 H346)
Hastie presents examples of how the sport education curriculum and instruction model have been implemented, refined and evaluated at different school levels in many different countries.
World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements
Hunter, John. 2013. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (303.69071 H945)
In this delightful book, Hunter discusses what he has learned in 30 years of playing “World Peace Game” with his students. He discusses how students have taken on roles of tribal leaders, bankers, politicians and military leaders and how they have worked to solve international crises through cooperation and collaboration.
A World-Class Education: Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation
Stewart, Vivien. 2012. Alexandria, Va.: ASCD (371.207 S852)
This book, written from an American perspective, explores how countries outside the United States are adapting their educational system to reach new levels of achievement. Stewart considers the characteristics, policies and practices of other school systems that allow them to outperform the American education system.
