“Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization” - Yong Zhao

Lecture Summary Zhao’s book of the same title, “Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization,” addresses these and other questions. At a time when globalization and technology are dramatically altering the world we live in, is education reform in the United States headed down the right path? Are schools emphasizing the knowledge and skills that students need in a global society? Or, are they undermining students’ strengths by overemphasizing high-stakes testing and standardization? Are education systems in China and other countries as superior as some people claim? American education is at a crossroads. We need to change course to maintain leadership in a rapidly changing world. How should we redesign our educational system?