Cross-country education borrowing and lending (June 11-17, 2012) [May 26, 2012, 3:54 a.m.]
As countries, schools and individuals look to improve education systems and practices, we often "borrow" and "lend" education policies and ideas from and to one another. This week we look at a variety of education systems and ponder the benefits and drawbacks of "education borrowing and lending".
Videos:
Please watch the following videos this week:
Strong Perforners and Successful Reformers: A video series profiling policies and practices of education systems that demonstrate high or improving performance in the PISA tests, Pearson Foundation. (~20 minutes/video)
Please select 2 or 3 videos to watch from this series. The series features videos about education in China, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Singapore, Portugal, Poland, Korea and Japan.
Schooling the World Trailer (~3 minutes)
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Readings(s), Optional:
The following optional readings build upon this week's topic:
- How the World's Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better (Executive Summary), McKinsey & Company. For a copy of the full report, click here.
- What the U.S. Can't Learn from Finland About Ed Reform by Valerie Strauss, Washington Post
- If you want to explore this topic in depth in the future, you may want to read The Global Politics of Education Borrowing and Lending by Gita Steiner-Khamsi (editor)
Discussion Questions:
Please discuss the following questions below. Then throughout the week, try to respond to at least two other comments from your colleagues.
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After watching this week's videos, complete the following sentences:
- I think...
- I wonder...
- My ideas about... are changing...
- Based on your own life experiences which education systems and practices do you most want to learn from? Please explain.
- Global standardized assessments such as the PISA and TIMMS tests are often used to benchmark and compare education systems. How do you feel about this?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of "educational borrowing and lending"?
- What skills, knowledge or ideas do you have that others would benefit from? How do you "lend" these assets?"
- What else?
- Please respond to at least 2 other comments from your colleagues this week.
Skype Discussion, Optional:
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The optional 1-hour Skype discussion this week will be:
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June 17th (Sunday): 12:30pm Eastern Standard Time ("New York" time).
- To calculate what time this is in your time zone, Google "Time in New York". Then calculate the time difference between New York and your own time zone. For example, 12:30pm EST is 8:30pm Dubai time.
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Please RSVP for this week's Skype call here. It is helpful of you RSVP at least one day in advance of the call.
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If you cannot make the optional Skype discussion time, you are welcome to organize and facilitate another group call with your colleagues.