Internationalizing Rural STEM Teacher Preparation in the United States

Rapid technological and environmental changes have shifted the scope of STEM teachers’ responsibilities to include preparing students for an interconnected world. Climate change and coping with pandemic-related challenges have further demonstrated that being globally competent is a critical need. Globally competent STEM teachers tailor students’ sense-making through powerful, relevant, and transformational learning experiences that meet the abovementioned demands. Unfortunately, most teacher preparation programs insufficiently address globally competent STEM teaching, and teachers enter schools unprepared for such a task. Using a peer-led teaming approach, we created a professional learning community of university science teacher educators seeking to prepare globally competent rural STEM teachers. Together, we transformed our understandings and practice by developing and conducting action research studies that enhanced our collective insights on locally driven yet globally focused STEM teaching. This national-level intervention presentation will share our professional development process and highlight some of the outcomes of STEM teacher preparation programs.