The Global Education Guidebook: Humanizing K-12 Classrooms Worldwide Through Equitable Partnerships by Jennifer D. Klein, really is just that, a guidebook and essential resource for: ‘Educators who are striving to connect their students to classrooms and experts in ways that humanize the world, while preparing students to thrive in the 21st century. This practical guide takes readers through the steps and strategies needed to set up an equitable and global learning alliance that benefits all learners, founded in the tenets of global citizenship and cultural competence.’
The Natural Pod team loves this book because it’s both action orientated and deeply human and empathic in its support and guidance for those in the education space that really care about big issues. Plus Jennifer D. Klein is fascinating as a person, as is her work and the impact she has on global education. Jennifer is director of educator development for World Leadership School, coaching teachers in global integration and facilitating projects between North American classrooms and schools around the world. She is a national faculty member for the Buck Institute for Education, facilitating workshops on project-based learning, and she provides strategic coaching to schools involved in TakingITGlobal’s Future Friendly Schools project. Jennifer is a central partner in the Centre for Global Education’s international video conference programs, delivers professional development workshops for Fulbright teacher programs through the Institute for International Education and the US State Department, and is a regional consultant for the Center for Global Education at Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network.
These are the key teachings, examples and takeaways:
- Explore examples of elementary, middle, and high school partnerships that target the critical thinking and 21st-century skills students need for life in a complex world.
- Gain wisdom from global education leaders and practitioners who have firsthand experience building successful and transformative global education partnerships for students.
- Consider educational technology, communication platforms, organizations, and strategies for finding and fostering a long-term global partnership for education.
- Understand the equity pitfalls of global partnerships and explore cross-cultural management strategies for building equitable relationships with other communities in the world.
- Learn about assessing intercultural competence and partnership programs, as well as ways to expand global learning opportunities across your community.
Here is how The Global Education Guidebook’s ten chapters are structured:
Chapter 1: Building Global Competencies Via Global Partnerships
Chapter 2: Preparing for Global Collaboration: Considerations Before the Search
Chapter 3: Getting a Feel for What’s Possible
Chapter 4: Finding Existing Partnership Programs That Work
Chapter 5: Finding a Global Partner on Your Own
Chapter 6: Strategizing for Successful Communication
Chapter 7: Avoiding Equity Pitfalls
Chapter 8: Exploring Social Justice Challenges Through Partnerships
Chapter 9: Assessing Global Competencies and Partnerships
Chapter 10: Building a Culture of Global Engagement Across the Community
About Jennifer D. Klein
The Global Education Guidebook is Jennifer’s first book. Her second is due for publication in 2022 with co-author Kapono Ciotti. As an educational leader, writer, speaker, and bilingual workshop facilitator, Jennifer strives to inspire educators to shift their practices in schools worldwide.
A product of experiential project-based education herself, Jennifer D. Klein taught college and high school English and Spanish for nineteen years, including five years in Central America and eleven years in all-girls education. In 2010, Jennifer left teaching to begin Principled Learning Strategies, which provides professional development to support authentic student-driven global learning experiences in schools. She has a broad background in global education and partnership development, student-driven curricular strategies, inclusivity, and experiential, inquiry-driven learning. As a former head of school with extensive international experience, Jennifer facilitates dynamic, interactive workshops for teachers, leaders and students, working to amplify student voice, to provide the tools for high-quality project-based learning in all cultural and socio-economic contexts, and to shift school culture to support such practices. Jennifer is also committed to intersecting global project-based learning with culturally-responsive and anti-racist teaching practices, and her experience includes deep work with schools seeking to address equity, take on brave conversations, build healthier community, and improve identity politics on campus.
Jennifer’s articles have been published in Independent School, The NSSSA Leader, and The Educational Forum. Jennifer also blogs irregularly for a variety of forums. She has facilitated workshops in English and Spanish in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Sierra Leone, and Palestine.
Review by – Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano, Global Education Advisor and Author
“The Global Education Guidebook by Jennifer Klein is the resource educators of all levels, including administrator, have been waiting for. Klein reminds us that global education ‘does not happen instead of curriculum goals, but helps our learners understand that what they are learning has broad implications’ beyond their classroom and zip code. This applies to every student, from kindergarten to college, as well as to teachers themselves. The book’s balanced approach between the theory behind global education and practical applications makes it an excellent guide for the teacher who is just starting to upgrade and amplify curriculum; it also works for the more experienced educator, who will receive powerful, yet practical recommendations and perspectives to teach, foster, and assess global competencies.”