This week is an opportunity to gain a new perspective on the world celebrating International Education Week. For the past two weeks, Dr. Melissa McAllister has worked at a primary school in Boscobel, Jamaica. She worked with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders on writing and reading in an effort to improve the students’ overall literacy.

Dr. McAllister went to Jamaica to serve  as the lead faculty for the Jamaica Education Study Abroad program. And, even though she went to support her SPC students as they practiced their instructional skills in Jamaican classrooms, she learned a lot. Dr. McAllister learned that students everywhere enjoy opportunities to express themselves. From practicing how to write a descriptive paragraph by first describing an M & M, to participating in readers theater  writing unique poems. The students she worked with enjoyed sharing their creativity. She  learned that students may be reluctant about participating in a new activity, but with encouragement and support, they thrived. Technology is awesome, but you don’t really need it to help students read and write well. Finally, Dr. McAllister learned about the beautiful Jamaican culture working with the students and teachers at the school.

Her experiences were unique due to the nature of the program  run through the College of Education.  “The opportunity to be more than just a traveler is what makes international education so valuable. Throughout an international education experience, your beliefs and conceptions of the world may be challenged. Your view of other countries will surely change as you interact with the locals. You may also find that your goals for your life may change as a result of your international education experience.”

So, in honor of International Education Week, get out there, explore, and learn. The world is huge, and the opportunities for learning are endless.