The document discusses how gaining an international perspective through experiences like living abroad can inform the future of education. It highlights aspects of some Asian cultures that could be applied in schools, like mobility, customization, and collaboration. "Third culture kids" who grow up internationally provide a global perspective that enriches their learning and teaching. The future of education may involve more personal learning networks, social media use, and individualized or collaborative projects inspired by global cultural perspectives.

1. Strand:2009:Keynote URL: http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=424 Thomas J. Ehrensperger, July 25, 2010 Response to Going Global: Culture Shock, Convergence, and the Future of Education

2. Overall Concept The presenter, Kim Cofino, stresses that an international perspective, such as that gained by working and living in different cultures and typified by “third culture kids”, has much to teach us about the future of education.

3. Culture Shock Teaching at international schools, especially in Asia, has inspired the presenter to see certain cultural aspects of Asian culture as metaphors for what we should be doing in our schools, such as… Mobility Customization Adaptability Always on Collaboration “Fast food” Blending of old and new Just-in-time delivery No fixed values Global Flexible

4. Convergence The experiences of “third culture kids”, both as current students and adults who are now teaching, informs and enriches their learning and teaching by providing a global perpective

5. The Future of Education Personal Learning Networks (PLN) Connect yourself to connect your class Social networks Start your own blog Skype Online conferences Twitter

6. Questions and Ideas for Further Exploration How does one best balance the need for a global perspective with the need for a good sense of our own history in the U.S.? How does one best incorporate global cultural perspectives into science teaching?

7. Gains for Personal Professional Development In a rapidly changing world, global knowledge and perspective are vital for almost any profession Woodward has some connections already with schools in Africa, South America, and Australia (where I visited the Pittwater House School in 1992). Stressing a global perspective is totally in concert with maintaining these relationships

8. Applying This to My Teaching Cultural vignettes, whether from my direct experience in other countries or learned elsewhere, can “spice up” almost any presentation, such as discussion of world climates in Meteorology I may be able to increase the number of individualized projects (individualization being a likely emphasis in future education) I may employ more collaborative learning opportunities in class (again, an emphasis in future education, inspired by a global perspective)