Illinois College students sharing insights from South America trip at World Affairs Council meeting
A story about Illinois College education students presenting their experience visiting Ecuador via a Fulbright Hays grant at the World Affairs Council meeting was featured in an article in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier on February 5, 2025.
To read the full story, visit myjournalcourier.com
The next meeting of the World Affairs Council will include discussion of a trip by Illinois College education students to South America and what the students learned during their 31 days there.
The students, all part of IC’s teacher preparation program, joined six local educators as part of a prestigious grant. In June, the 12 participants lived with host families, engaged in cultural activities, and visited various educational institutions.
The program, designed by IC and funded by a $96,000 federal grant from the Fulbright-Hays Program, addresses the gap in cultural education in many U.S. schools.
"In our schools, lessons on history and culture often focus on Europe, neglecting the rich history and culture of Latin America," said Steven Gardner, IC’s Francis McReynolds Smith professor of international understanding. "With communities becoming increasingly diverse, it’s essential for teachers to learn how to integrate different cultural perspectives into their classrooms."
The free West Central Illinois Council on World Affairs meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Illinois College's Crispin Hall. During the presentation, students and teachers will share their insights about the collaboration with the University of Cuenca.
To read the full story written by the Journal Courier, visit the website.