Cal State Fullerton Hosts International Education Summit
National Geographic Funds Effort to Prepare Students as Global Leaders
To help today's students become tomorrow's global leaders, Cal State Fullerton is hosting "California and the World: A Global International Education Summit" Tuesday, May 6. Sponsoring the event is Fullerton International Resources for Schools and Teachers (FIRST), a campus program that is part of the California State Subject Matter Project Network. National Geographic funds the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. summit in the Titan Student Union.
Connie DeCapite, FIRST Director
The goal is to inspire and empower every person in attendance - teachers, principals, university faculty members, business leaders and community members - to leave with a way to help meet the challenge of preparing students to live in today's interconnected world, said Connie DeCapite, FIRST director.
"Our students are growing up in a world that requires a global understanding to live, work and be active citizens in the 21st century," DeCapite said. "Attendees will learn about resources and practices that enhance global international skills and perspectives in all disciplines to prepare students of all ages - from kindergarten to university level - for success."
Speakers include Stephen Cunha, director of the California Geographic Alliance; Charles E.M. Kolb, president of the Committee on Economic Development; Chris Harrington, vice president of strategy and business development for Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.; and Tony Jackson, executive director of the International Studies Schools Network. Experts in the international arena will be featured in a 1 p.m. panel presentation about best practices.
The event is being held in collaboration with the university's College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Secondary Education, California International Studies Statewide Project, Global Leadership Experiences Online, Anaheim Union High School Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Induction Program and the Orange County Department of Education.
FIRST is one of seven regional sites of the California International Studies Project and was brought to campus in 1994 by Bill Haddad, chair and professor of history. The project grewunder the leadership of co-directors, Ronald H. Pahl, professor of secondary education, and DeCapite.
Over the last three years, FIRST has garnered more than $500,000 in state and federal funding, outside grants, contracts and partnerships to provide programs, DeCapite said. During 2004-07, 919 classroom teachers participated in FIRST training programs and seminars.
Through FIRST, K-12 professional development programs focus on improving knowledge of the world by exploring international themes and issues inherent in geography, economics, government, world and U.S. history, regions, cultures and religions, DeCapite said.
University scholars provide academic content, and teacher leaders provide research-based teaching strategies. In addition, all programs address content area reading, writing and academic language skills.
Currently, FIRST is working with Orange County and area school districts to provide a wide range of California standards-based programs. Activities provided by FIRST include seminars, coaching instruction, teacher leadership development programs, school and school district partnerships and summer institutes that focus on different countries.
In April, FIRST hosted a "Teaching American History Grant Showcase Conference" on campus. Teachers from Anaheim Union High School District provided model classroom lessons for teacher candidates in the College of Education's Single Subject Credential Program.
"Mexico in the Changing World" is the topic of the FIRST Summer Institute Program July 21-25 at Cal State Fullerton, which will address history, culture, geography and U.S.-Mexico relations.
Other upcoming summer programs include three-day seminars on the history and cultures of Korea and Iran. Both programs are part of the Program to Advance Cultural Understanding, a collaborative developed by FIRST, Irvine parent groups and the Irvine Education Foundation to help local teachers understand the root cultures and histories of the countries from which many of their students or their families have come, DeCapite said.
Additional information about FIRST and upcoming programs for summer and fall is available at 657-278-7664 or online at www.FIRST.fullerton.edu.
Media Contacts:
Connie DeCapite, FIRST, 714-345-4877 or cdecapite@fullerton.edu
Debra Cano Ramos, Public Affairs, 657-278-4027 or dcanoramos@fullerton.edu
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