PRE-SEMINAR PUBLIC FORUM
3 June, 2009–9 a.m.-12 noon
Weber State University Union Building Theater & Ballroom

Purpose

The overarching aim of this program is to give our ISTE members an opportunity to share their expertise from their native country about how teacher training, professional development, and teacher education is viewed and implemented within our world community.

Why this program?

The annual ISTE seminar is a critical mass of global talent and wisdom that the public and media rarely witness. This forum offers an opportunity for some of the members to share their views on a variety of issues and concerns facing education in their country and subsequently engage a public audience in a town meeting-like arena where all can benefit from the discourse of ideas.

What is the structure?

Individual ISTE members will be asked to serve on a panel in an informal format where a series of questions will be given to them by a moderator. Each panelist will respond from their country’s perspective offering the audience an opportunity to draw comparisons and think about contrasting ideologies, processes, and problems that we face in an effort to deepen the understanding of education globally. A reception will follow the panel discussion allowing the audience time to speak individually or in small groups with the panelists as well as other ISTE members.

Who will benefit?

Because the ISTE seminar structure does not lend itself to access public audiences and media, the forum interaction provides an opportunity for all to benefit by exploring ideas about educational trends, challenges, innovations, and frames of references from a global context.

Who is our audience?

Those people, university students, teachers, school officials, district administrators, educational leaders, media personnel, and community members, who are interested in learning about global educational issues.

How will representatives be selected?

Panel members will be selected from the membership of ISTE. We will draw from a cross-section of world regions that will include perspectives from highly urbanized settings to developing nations. If you are interested in participating, please contact Forrest Crawford at fcrawford@weber.edu.