Research and evaluation are essential elements of educational program design and implementation. In addition to our role as a practitioner, Global Cities, Inc. has undertaken the pioneering work of systematically identifying student learning outcomes for global virtual exchange and creating and applying a framework for evaluation.

We identified nine student learning outcomes that are explicit, measurable, and developmentally appropriate. They include four global outcomes (appreciation for diversity, cultural understanding, global knowledge, and global engagement) as well as five general outcomes (digital literacy, language communication, self-efficacy, academic engagement, and critical thinking) that support all learning, such as digital literacy.

In addition to identifying evidence of progress on those outcomes, we have defined a corresponding set of 112 empirical indicators of student growth. These encompass the rich set of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors that support global competence, such as synthesizing different perspectives on an issue and using digital tools to research and share credible information.

Together, these outcomes and indicators create a novel framework that drives our evaluation and research efforts. We have applied this framework to analyze student survey responses and student exchanges on digital discussion boards to measure growth in global competence. These innovative designs were created and refined in partnership with researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

How can you apply these indicators in your classroom? Learn more