Initial teacher education in the development of global competence

Abstract

This paper provides a description of a four-phased virtual exchange project carried out between the University of Florence and Providence College (USA). The task design that supported the pre-service teachers’ learning through ICT and their preparation as culturally responsive and globally conscious educators are presented. The main research objective was to foster understanding of effective pedagogy related to the development of global competencies, designing educational activities for primary school pupils. The paper focuses about how researchers attended to the development of global values and competencies using pedagogical approaches based on authentic tasks, counter narratives, dialogical experiences and thinking routines. The results of the study report qualitative analyses referred to the development of intercultural communication skills, teaching for global competence and critical reflections about values and actions as global teachers.

Keywords: Global competence, initial teacher education, interculturality, virtual exchange