International Scholarship Recipients Reflect on Education in a Global Context

May 2011—Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership awarded full-tuition scholarships to four teachers, each from an international U.S. curriculum-based school, in March. Through essays submitted for these scholarships, the recipients demonstrated how they would contribute to the development of their disciplines by using innovative strategies in the learning process and technology in the classroom.

Recipient: Mark Osborn

Current Position: Eighth-grade math teacher at Colegio Nueva Granada in Bogotá, Colombia

Program: MS in Education (MSEd) with a specialization in Mathematics, Grades 6–8

How I Use Technology in the Classroom: “The use of social media in the teaching-learning process can be a valuable tool. I am working to develop creative and effective strategies for using blogs, discussion boards and other social media applications to promote collaborative student learning.”

How I View Education in a Global Context: “I can enact meaningful and positive social change in my current position as an international educator. I am a mentor and teacher-leader of a group of students who have wide-ranging experiences. By being a role model for effective mathematics use and analysis, I can significantly prepare this group for the challenges they will face.”

Recipient: Don Chambers

Current Position: Advanced Placement chemistry teacher at The American School in Japan in Tokyo

Program: Doctor of Education (EdD) with a specialization in Teacher Leadership

How I Use Technology in the Classroom: “I want to encourage international schools to start robotics programs and engender intellectual interaction through competitions. A comprehensive robotics curriculum includes everything from learning about the electrical components and programming microprocessors to networking with other robot builders and sharing ideas.”

How I View Education in a Global Context: “Robotics has become a worldwide phenomenon. It brings people together and focuses them on the problem at hand. Participants understand they are on an even playing field.”

Recipient: Johnson Jacob

Current Position: Director of information technology at the American International School of Bucharest in Romania

Program: PhD in Education with a specialization in K–12 Educational Leadership

How I Use Technology in the Classroom: “Learning can no longer be confined within the four walls of a classroom. Educational leaders must capitalize on social media as the new influencer that can help bridge the gap between learners and learning environments. Sharing through social media can enhance processes, humanize learning and foster creative communities.”

How I View Education in a Global Context: “Every individual has the potential to be an active contributor, author, teacher and producer of new knowledge who is responsible for their own learning anywhere in the world. This change is due to the availability of a multitude of new technology enablers like Web 2.0 and data convergence.”

Recipient: Christina Simmons

Current Position: High school English teacher at Alliance Academy International in Quito, Ecuador

Program: PhD in Education with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

How I Use Technology in the Classroom: “Technology is a staple in my classroom. The Internet offers a wealth of information. In today's Web-centric society, it is important that we teach our students to discern the Internet's credibility and use for academic work. I seek to actively engage students with presentation tools, such as SmartBoard and PowerPoint.”

How I View Education in a Global Context: “No matter where we are in the world, educators share a common goal: To impart knowledge and watch our students flourish in understanding and success. With an increased education, I will be able to reach an even broader population and teach others to do the same.”