Carole Lee Wins International Culture Team Award
Posted on 5/7/2009
Carole Lee, a doctoral student in curriculum and instruction, was named the Outstanding New Member of the Year by the International Culture Team at the University of Arkansas for 2008-09.
Lee, a native of Hong Kong, also received an Arkansas Traveler certificate from Gov. Mike Beebe's office. The Arkansas Traveler certificate is a ceremonial honor commissioning Lee to serve as an ambassador of good will from Arkansas to the people of other states and other nations.
A Doctoral Academy Fellow at the university, Lee is in the third year of her doctoral program in the College of Education and Health Professions. In the spring semester, she taught a course for elementary education students about teaching science. For her dissertation, she will study the elementary teacher preparation program. She will interview teacher educators or professors from various states to see how they prepare elementary teachers teaching science and what they think are the best curricula for the courses.
"I think it is essential to strengthen elementary science education by having a good training program for elementary teachers," Lee said.
She also won the award for Outstanding Doctoral Student in Curriculum and Instruction this year from the College of Education and Health Professions.
Lee has been a member of the International Culture Team since May 2008. To win the new member award, she underwent training offered by the club and used what she learned to make presentations to others about her country. She was also required to write an essay explaining what she learned from making the presentations and how being a member of the club has helped improved her communication, organization and leadership skills.
She described introducing Chinese culture, not only to elementary students, but also to high school students and college students, employing different approaches such as skits, using chopsticks, writing Chinese numerals and playing Chinese instruments. She and her husband, Eddie, have worked together on several club activities.
"In addition to the general introduction of Hong Kong and China, we discussed the issues of cultural differences," Lee wrote. "As globalization pulls different parts of the world together, I believe people should not only be conscious in identifying themselves with their communities and nation, but should be aware of themselves as world citizens. To develop a global perspective, one needs to understand and respect the culture of others. This is what I think of as multiculturalism."
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