Mind the Gap Series on Engaged Learning and Teaching

In this review of Mind the Gap (Series on Engaged Learning and Teaching) the authors Nina Namaste and Amanda Sturgill examine how global learning extends beyond traditional study abroad programs. The bottom line: this collection is for educators, administrators, and curriculum designers who want a broader, practical framework for integrating global learning into campus courses and high-impact practices. It is most valuable because it reframes familiar programs like undergraduate research, service learning, and domestic off-campus study as meaningful global learning opportunities rather than treating international programs as the only option.

Key Features

• Expanded view of global learning: The series situates study abroad in a larger context so institutions can identify global learning moments throughout the student experience.
• Cross-campus relevance: It highlights how departments, multicultural centers, and diversity offices can collaborate to create globally informed curricula on campus.
• Integration with high-impact practices: The text explains how undergraduate research, service-based learning, and domestic off-campus programs can all foster global competencies.
• Practical for administrators: College leaders will find language and concepts that support curricular change and inclusive programming beyond credit-bearing international programs.
• Disciplinary adaptability: Examples indicate how language, anthropology, sociology, and other fields can incorporate global learning goals into existing courses.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at faculty who want to embed global perspectives into their courses without relying solely on traditional study abroad, and at academic administrators who must justify and design inclusive global learning initiatives. Educational developers and staff in multicultural or diversity offices will find the framework useful for connecting disparate campus efforts under a coherent definition of global learning.

Those seeking step-by-step classroom activities or a handbook of assessments might need additional resources; the series focuses more on conceptual framing and institutional strategy than on detailed lesson plans or rubrics.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Reorients global learning so colleges can recognize and credit diverse educational experiences beyond international travel.
• Encourages collaboration across departments and campus offices to build sustainable global learning pathways.
• Connects global learning to widely accepted high-impact practices, making it easier to integrate into existing assessment and program review processes.

Cons

• Limited in practical classroom tools; readers looking for ready-to-implement activities will need to supplement with other materials.

Specifications

Title	Mind the Gap (Series on Engaged Learning and Teaching)
Authors	Nina Namaste, Amanda Sturgill
Focus	Global learning across campus and programs
Audience	Faculty, administrators, educational developers
Key themes	High-impact practices, curricular integration, inclusivity
Applicable units	Departments, multicultural centers, diversity offices

Our Verdict

Mind the Gap is a strong conceptual resource for institutions that want to broaden their understanding of global learning and make it more inclusive and campus-wide. It is good value for educators and administrators seeking strategy and institutional framing, though practitioners will want supplemental materials for classroom implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this series replace study abroad?
Answer. No; it reframes study abroad as one of many global learning options and emphasizes campus-based and domestic opportunities as equally valuable.

Who benefits most from reading it?
Answer. Faculty developers, curriculum designers, and academic leaders who need a framework to integrate global learning across departments and programs.

Will it provide classroom activities?
Answer. The series focuses on conceptual and institutional strategy, so instructors may need additional resources for specific lesson plans and assessments.