Global Citizenship Education in Rural Wisconsin Schools: Exploring Current Landscape & Opportunities For Expansion

Abstract

In this study I sought to explore the current state of global citizenship education in rural Wisconsin schools, including perceived benefits, barriers, successes, supports, and visions for the future, as well as opportunities and ways to expand global citizenship education in rural Wisconsin schools. Pragmatic and transformative worldview principles were combined and employed to carry out an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study utilizing both an online survey and individual interviews with rural K-12 teachers and administrators. The results highlight that rural Wisconsin teachers and administrators are currently incorporating global citizenship education in unique ways that fit their context and situation; however, the global citizenship education gap is real in rural Wisconsin schools and needs to be addressed. The findings of this study offer specific and tangible recommendations for rural K-12 school districts, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, school administrators and leadership, higher education institutions, global citizenship education organizations, and more.