A World-Class Education: Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation

In A World-Class Education Vivien Stewart depicts a number of international models of excellence in education at the K-12 level. In particular she focuses on those that have done well on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test that is given in the areas of math, science and reading to 15 year old students in numerous countries. PISA is different from other international assessments in that it assesses critical thinking skills and not just rote learning. Chief among the countries and locations discussed are Singapore, Finland, Alberta and Ontario provinces in Canada and Shanghai, China. After describing the successes of these school systems individually, Ms. Stewart looks as the commonalities among them. She finds that these include: vision and leadership, ambitious standards, commitment to equity, high quality teachers and leaders, alignment and coherence, management and accountability, student motivation and global and future orientation. She continuously compares these standards to those in the United States and finds the U.S. to be seriously lacking in most areas. She also devotes a chapter to developing effective teachers and school leaders and one to modernizing curriculum, instruction and assessment.This book is valuable for everyone, not just those in education. Education, increasingly, is the key to economic success for countries and individuals alike. The current education system in the United States and much of the world is seriously lacking in its efforts to prepare students for success in the world of the 21st century. If you are a student reading this book can help you get the education you need; if you are a parent it can help you motivate your child’s school to do better; if you are a citizen it can help you understand what your schools and your country needs to do if the future is to be better.

Vivien Stewart's expertise, experience, and research of innovated international education modules provides solid framework for her book: A World-Class Education: Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation. Stewart's words are grounded and centered on her previous work in Carnegie Corporation directing youth programs, at the United Nations providing access and education to refugees, and in the education sector for Asia Society. Stewart rightly suggests that the US currently needs a world- class education reform that can be defined by the quality of educational outcomes. The US has slipped from being a top world educator it once was in the 20th century. Students are no longer competing just within the classroom; they are now competing with a globalized world. Stewart identifies the five major global world talents in the education pool that have raised their student achievements: Singapore, Canada (Alberta and Ontario), Finland, China (Shanghai), and Australia. Stewart's format is clear and concise devoting sections to each high-performing country. Each section ends with a concrete take away message for US educators based on the following elements: vision and leadership, ambitious standards, commitment to equity, high quality teachers and leaders, alignment and coherence, management and accountability, student engagement and motivation, and global and future orientation. The text is accessible, timely, and appropriate for educators, parents and students, or frankly anyone interested in education in a global society.

Excellent book discussing top performing school systems around the world compared to the US. Lots of great information- I highly recommend. Similar to the book The Learning Revolution- also amazing.

This book was excellent. Stewart's analyses of countries leading in education were informative and eye-opening, especially in regard to how the U.S. can adopt policies to ameliorate the teaching profession and improve international education for the future. I recommend this book to any educator whom desires a new perspective of the global education system/community.

Purchased as a gift for a teacher. Excellent read.

As a teacher, I found it interesting to read about educational attainments in various countries, especially as measured by standardised tests in literacy and numeracy. There are a number of easy to follow tables of statistics. He author's agenda is clearly to urge the United States to lift its educational standards to match countries like Singapore, Finland and even Australia.The book is short, and clearly intended as a quick read. As an Australian teacher of many years' experience, I found some inaccuracies and over simplifications about education in this country, and therefore am inclined to think that the details given about other countries may also be suspect. The value of the book for me lies in its provision of statistics rather than the author's comments or observations.

It was interesting to read from an academic point of view. It helps me to understand how other possibilities could be implemented hier if their were not so much trouble with unions and politics.

Excellent book to get people thinking about American education as well as other systems of education in comparative perspective...

Brilliant

Excelente balance de diferentes sistemas educativos comparados con el los EEUU con el fin de adaptar la educación al topo que viene.Ingente documentación y fuentes y preguntas y orientaciones pertinentes. Ayuda a reflexionar