Preparing faculty to lead short-term education abroad courses
Proposal Format
45-minute Presentation
Track Choices
Contemporary Issues in Teaching and Learning
Abstract
Research shows that college students benefit greatly from study abroad experiences (e.g., Opengart, 2018). Familiarizing faculty with the impact and richness of education abroad opportunities can influence student participation (e.g., Rampold, 2018). This session unpacks a "job shadowing" professional development plan used at the University of South Carolina to train faculty in how to develop and lead short-term education abroad courses. The process involved pairing a faculty member who had never developed/led a short-term program abroad with a experienced faculty mentor to guide them through all aspects of developing and leading a short-term education abroad course. The pilot course, Retail Luxury Management in Italy, occurred in Spring 2023, and included stateside pre-departure class sessions and assignments, 10 days in-country in May, and a culminating research project and presentation. Both faculty (mentor and mentee) worked side-by-side in planning and executing the program. Based on the experience, the faculty trainee is now able to develop a new education abroad program on her own.
Keywords
Study abroad, Faculty training, Mentorship
Speaker Bio
Karen Edwards serves as an interim associate dean of academic programs in the College oof HRSM at the University of South Carolina. Recipient of the University's 2019 Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation, the 2017 Faculty Integrity Award, and the 2010-11 Harry E. Varney Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award, Edwards teaches in the areas of digital commerce, asset protection and law-related issues affecting retailers. Edwards has developed and led numerous study abroad programs and co-developed the University's first-ever virtual study abroad course. In 2016, Edwards received the Brian J. and Linda L. Mihalik Global Scholar Award. Donna Watts has been an instructor in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina since 2009 and has taught 11 different courses in both the Department of Retailing and the Department of Integrated Information Technology. She received a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and a Master of Science in Textiles, Clothing, and Interior Design from Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is a certified diamontologist and recently completed her WiX certification to become one of the first instructors worldwide to teach WiX website development in the classroom.
Preparing faculty to lead short-term education abroad courses
Penny Hall, 210
Research shows that college students benefit greatly from study abroad experiences (e.g., Opengart, 2018). Familiarizing faculty with the impact and richness of education abroad opportunities can influence student participation (e.g., Rampold, 2018). This session unpacks a "job shadowing" professional development plan used at the University of South Carolina to train faculty in how to develop and lead short-term education abroad courses. The process involved pairing a faculty member who had never developed/led a short-term program abroad with a experienced faculty mentor to guide them through all aspects of developing and leading a short-term education abroad course. The pilot course, Retail Luxury Management in Italy, occurred in Spring 2023, and included stateside pre-departure class sessions and assignments, 10 days in-country in May, and a culminating research project and presentation. Both faculty (mentor and mentee) worked side-by-side in planning and executing the program. Based on the experience, the faculty trainee is now able to develop a new education abroad program on her own.