Vanderbilt professor joins Jordanian research team to innovate teacher education

Vanderbilt Peabody's Emily Pendergrasshas been named to the new global cohort "Empowering Teachers: 21st Century Skills." The University of Jordan, in Amman, recently assembled the research team, which aims to boost teachers' professional development in an age of evolving technologies and rapidly transforming learning environments.

"The research," said Pendergrass, professor of the practice and director of the reading education program in the Department of Teaching and Learning, "will foster cross-cultural and global connections and learning that will be available to both students and teachers at Peabody."

The research program is the genesis of several years of collaborative work between Peabody College of education and human development and the University of Jordan. When two Jordanian higher education delegations visited Peabody for the first time in 2023, their goal was to strengthen teacher training and align their programs with international accreditation standards.

Then, in the fall of 2024, faculty from three Jordanian universities attended a two-week professional development residency at Peabody, examining the design of Vanderbilt's elementary teacher education program, visiting university classes and observing Nashville elementary schools.

"We are so proud that Emily Pendergrass will serve on the University of Jordan's new research team," said Amanda Goodwin, a leader and top researcher in the Department of Teaching and Learning. "Emily is a dynamic educator and collaborator whose work continually strengthens our community here at Peabody and beyond. Her leadership and insights will help ensure that teachers everywhere are equipped to thrive in rapidly changing classrooms."

About the research

The partnership spotlights Peabody's role as an influential college of education and a force in advancing K-12 and higher education domestically and internationally.

The initiative's goals include:

• Incorporating 21st-century skills into teacher preparation,

• Designing effective professional development models, and

• Boosting teachers' readiness for innovation and digital competence.

The 10-person team, comprised primarily of educators from the University of Jordan, will investigate issues such as the role of artificial intelligence in education, how to use technology to create welcoming environments, and innovations that encourage student-centered learning.

"The role of teachers is more important than ever," added Pendergrass, herself a former teacher and today a field-leading literacy and teaching practice expert. "This research team will be an important catalyst in ensuring that educators feel equipped to handle a digitally complex future. Additionally, contributing to the research literature on how we educate teachers as they develop innovative pedagogies is critical."

Emily Pendergrass was recently named to the Tennessee Literacy Council and heads the Peabody Department of Teaching and LearningReading Education program. Learn more about Peabody's field-shifting research here, and explore more top-ranked Teaching and Learning offerings here.