Study abroad trip to Italy exposes education students, faculty to different teaching practices

Students and faculty in the School of Education at Northwest Missouri State University returned this spring to Reggio Emilia, Italy, where they spent a week learning about the region’s approach to preschool and primary education.

Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Becky Moore and Associate Professor of Education Dr. Sandy Seipel led the study abroad experience March 22 through March 30 and were accompanied by Professor of Education Dr. Nissa Ingraham

“Experiencing other cultures and methods of teaching provides such a rich opportunity to learn,” Ingraham said. “Getting out of our comfort zones is important to shaking up our thought processes and opening our mind to new possibilities and opportunities for our students.”

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy developed for preschool and primary education that encourages play and exploration as a vehicle for learning. The study abroad experience provides participants with hands-on, profession-based experiences to reinforce their corresponding academic coursework.

While younger grades in the Horace Mann Laboratory School and the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families utilize practices inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, students and faculty of the School of Education believe it is important to develop a deep understanding of the methods from experts to employ them in their careers as educators.

“It is important that we, as teachers in the Leet Center and Horace Mann, learn first-hand about the approach so we can not only work with our young students using this approach but also exemplify the approach when working with our college practicum students,” Ingraham said.

Left to right, Avry Asby, Nissa Ingraham, Sandy Seipel, Becky Moore, Jonathan Rohr, Julie Michaelsen, Jessica Cook, Jenna Cotter, Abbie Johnson, Rachel Radcliff, Katie Thibodeau and Jessica Makona are pictured outside of the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia, where study groups gather daily for lectures. (Submitted photos)

Students Rachel Radcliff, Jonathan Rohr, Jenna Cotter, Abbie Johnson and Avry Asby show off their official name badges after checking in at the Loris Malaguzzi Center for their first day of learning about the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

Participants took daily notes and reflected on their experiences. Each evening the Northwest study group gathered to reflect on their learning during the day.

In Italy, Northwest students and faculty visited with experts of the approach. The group learned the history of Reggio Emilia practices by visiting locations that remain vital to the approach’s development, such as the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, a hub for history, information and experimentation related to the Reggio Emilia Approach. During their visit to the Centre, the group attended lectures, tours, question-answer sessions and hands-on ateliers.

Rachel Radcliff, a junior early childhood education major from Lawson, Missouri, enjoyed learning about the impacts of the learning environment and the community of teachers and peers on a child’s education. 

“I learned the importance of intent and to put purpose behind everything I do in the classroom,” Radcliff said. “I also learned the importance of reflecting on myself as an educator – to better myself, my colleagues and students. My values are reflected in the classroom.”

In addition to learning about Reggio Emilia pedagogy, the group spent two days touring the city and other Italian towns such as Milan, Bellagio and Como to experience the country’s culture.

Jenna Cotter, a junior early childhood education major from St. Joseph, Missouri, said the experience of witnessing a new culture also served as an opportunity for learning and reflection.

“There were lots of aspects of Italy and the people there that felt so similar to us and what we experience,” Cotter said. “However, there was so much about Italy and its culture that is so different from us and made me think about what we could do differently (in the United States).”

Jonathan Rohr, a junior studying elementary education from Clearmont, Missouri, said exploring Reggio Emilia was beneficial to his career development as the trip exposed him to new ways of thinking about teaching and the classroom setting.

“This experience has helped me to think about how I set up my classroom and how I speak to my students,” Rohr said. “Other teachers truly matter, as they influence how my students will learn within my future classroom.”