Intercultural Competence of Early Childhood Preservice Teachers: Preparing Teachers for Diverse Classrooms

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Research in Early Education and Child Development

Abstract

This research shares a study from one large, Midwestern University’s early childhood education (ECE) program. The ECE program had completed curricular changes focused on internationalizing the curriculum and measured the intercultural competence of the first cohort (n=43) to graduate from the revised curriculum. The Intercultural Development Inventory Hammer, Bennett, & Wiseman, 2003) results from the cohort’s on-line assessment taken at the beginning and at the end of their ECE courses and fieldwork, show a significant difference in students’ developmental and perceived levels of cultural competence. While still remaining within a Minimization range of developmental orientation, the results are encouraging for the role that a teacher education program may have in supporting intercultural competence.

Author

• Martha J. Lash, Kent State University