Comparative Education and Overseas Fieldwork

General Program Description

Australia: tentatively June – July 2012

Scotland: tentatively June – July 2013

New Zealand: June - July 5, 2013

Comparative Education and Overseas Fieldwork is a six-credit graduate course designed for certified elementary and secondary school teachers, librarians or administrators who would like to expand their learning through the study of educational systems of other English-speaking countries.

Each year, a different country will be the focus on the program: Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. In summer 2012, Australia will be the focus. In Spring, the Comparative Education & Overseas Fieldwork course will have two pre-fieldwork seminars, one on the UW-Whitewater campus and one online. In summer, participants spend three and one half weeks in the country on the schedule. They later join a post-fieldwork seminar in the fall. All seminars are held on Saturdays.

The three and one half-week overseas component of this course features approximately two weeks in the home of a host teacher who has been assigned by our in-country liaison. During this time, the U.S. teacher will accompany his or her host to school, assist with group and individual instruction, visit other classrooms, and take part in a variety of school activities. The actual activities and their sequence is dependent upon the school, its schedule and the location.

The final week and a half consists of (2) a week of independent studies, during which participants travel at their own expense, and (1) four day educational seminar where U.S. teachers come together as a group.

Highlights and Benefits

• Earn six graduate credits
• Experience a different culture firsthand
  • Participate in school and classroom activities
  • Live with a host teacher/family
• Explore the history & culture of another country through individual or small group travel
• Extend your travel/cultural experiences beyond the program
• Attend educational seminars in order to...
  • Compare educational systems
  • Share individual placement experiences
  • Learn from informal presentations by guest speakers who will discuss their country's educational programs, policies, practices, and diversity
  • Explore and reflect on ways to implement new ideas in your classroom
• Renew your enthusiasm for teaching
• A hybrid of on-campus and international site components

Placements in three English-speaking countries:

• Australia (tentative: Summer 2012)
• Scotland (Summer 2013)
• New Zealand (tentative: Summer 2013)

Information Contact

For more information or to request an application packet, contact:

Terry Behlke, Program Manager
Comparative Education & Overseas Fieldwork
Office of Continuing Education
Roseman 2017A
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
800 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190
(800) 621-5376 or (262) 472-1003
cetravelstudy@uww.edu