Rebecca Gallaher, of Hummelstown, Pa. Presented with Wilkes Education Department in Singapore

2012 Apr 23

Six Wilkes University students gave a presentation at the Third International Problem-Based Learning Symposium in Singapore on March 8. The Wilkes team presented Fostering Global Connections: An American University's Student Teaching Program in Malaysia, a presentation focusing on the recently formed link between the Teacher Education Program at Wilkes and Sri Utama International Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The students completed part of their student teaching placements in Malaysia this spring, and they were accompanied at the conference by their student teaching supervisor, Gina Zanolini Morrison, associate professor of education.

Among the participating students was Rebecca Gallaher, of Hummelstown, Pa. Gallaher is majoring in elementary education and special education at Wilkes. She is the daughter of Susan and Mitchell Gallaher.

As part of the session, each student teacher reviewed an actual problem-based learning (PBL) lesson plan that was taught in Malaysia. Participants received copies of the Wilkes lesson plans and were given the opportunity to ask specific questions about methodology as well as the student teachers' experience abroad. Godlove Fonjweng, director of study abroad at Wilkes, was co-author of the presentation.

During their study abroad experience, the student teachers lived and worked at Sri Utama International Schools in Kuala Lumpur. In addition to teaching and traveling to Singapore, the students visited the East Coast of Malaysia and the historic city of Malacca. They attended Thaipusam, a Hindu holiday at Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, and a Chinese New Year lion dance. They also went on a jungle trek and rode elephants at an animal sanctuary. Three of the student teachers taught in the international primary school and three taught in the secondary school.

Photo Caption: Wilkes University education students present in Singapore. From left to right: First row: Marrissa Fedor, Hanover Township, Pa.; Kathleen Shedden, Canton, Pa.; Second row: Gina Zanolini Morrison, associate professor of education, Wilkes University; Rebecca Gallaher, Hummelstown, Pa.; Felicia Le Clair, Glass, N.J.; Kaitlyn McGurk, Swarthmore, Pa.; Thomas Goldberg, Freehold, N.J.