On March 19, 2003, we held a Focus Group to begin the process of defining and identifying components of International Education Preschool-Graduate School. Here is a summary of our brainstorming efforts.

Preparing students for the world today

• Attitude of global citizen
• Blending multicultural and international education
• Children see their roots
• Every child needs cultural competence
• Today's students are more aware (e.g., know how to pronounce their friends' names correctly)

Multiple Perspectives

• Include under-represented cultures
• Issue: African American students rarely study world languages
• Issue: Need to include children with disabilities and target underserved populations

Social Studies

• World Geography * World History * Contemporary World Problems * Civics * Religion
• How to leverage what's already in place (in terms of credit requirements) -- repair the "existing roads and bridges"
• Why are these subjects considered electives?
• What about economics (example of UW Business School teaching Middle School students about making soccer balls in Pakistan)?
• Need to build continuum from P-20 (Preschool through Graduate School), so that students are enthusiastic about continuing their study

Culture

• Making connections
• Understanding differences and cultural mores, as well as what we as human beings share in common
• Connect literacy with cultural literacy
• Need a Cultural Competence Rubric that defines knowledge and skills
• Relate to "Courageous Conversations" that are taking place in the schools
• Music * Dance * Drama * Visual Arts * Literature
  >  touch children and plant a seed
• Begin early
• What's the fall-out of lack of cultural competence?
• Educating Incoming Students about American culture and understand politics

World Languages

• Language is Everything
• Second generation families need to take responsibility for preserving their language and culture
• Other countries face the same educational issues that we do
• Language immersion in content areas
• Include Bilingual Orientation Centers for truly international perspective on language

Partners

• Partner with non-profits and parents
• There is a wealth of knowledge in our own classrooms
• Share resources with other universities and schools overseas (e.g., UW joint minors/majors with overseas universities)

Strategies

• Grass roots (not top-down) effort -- submit bills to the Legislature
• Experiential learning (not just intellectual)
• Different kinds of learning
• Exchanges -- make human connections through travel and technology
• Touch students' hearts, souls, and minds
• Touch them emotionally through social engagement
• Before and after school programs
• ESL for immigrants
• Bring people in to provide added global perspective -- to show why school is important

Electronic Technology

• Web links
• Video conferencing (e.g., SCCTV)
• Scholarly connections
• Peer to peer
• Digital cultural exchange
• Personal contact for kids not exposed to foreign cultures (plus bring a real person to talk to them)
• Be creative

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