This guide will provide educators with resources about global issues and 21st century skills.

 

Educators are increasingly aware that the challenges of our changing world will require students to think and learn in new ways. In addition to teaching core academic content, our schools need to cultivate key skills: global awareness, critical thinking, media literacy, collaboration, intercultural communication, technological ability, and civic engagement

 

 

Global Education is often defined as preparing students to function in the international economy. Global competence involves an ability to function in societies other than our own.  Global education must prepare students to understand the perspectives of other peoples and cultures across all grade levels and disciplines so as to be able to solve common problems and develop better working relationships. 

 

A challenge of preparing our youth for the future starts with preparing them for work and ensuring their college readiness. Some of the most pressing global issues are protecting the environment, managing unprecedented human migration, and addressing the challenges of poverty, global health, and human rights. Understanding of these issues will demand a generation of individuals with a strong capacity to cooperate across national borders.  As Educators we need to prepare individuals to be able to solve global problems in the workplace, among many nations, through the internet, and in private decisions.

 

One quote from Global Education... particularly stood out to me.  When considering a "global education" at the district or school level, "the school and program of studies will inform students about the global education curriculum and help them select courses that lead to competency in this area."     But by be part of the discussions I learned that how is only informing students leading to competency, and so why just inform students and why not involve them?  To take this step is a barrier within my own school that needs to be overcome. 

 

So in terms of application to my classroom will include the idea of responsibility not just globally, but to each other as human beings, and this is where I think the idea of global citizenship intersects with classroom practice. I would like to invoke a broader idea of global education so my classroom will become an environment for exercising civic courage, social responsibility, politics, and compassion for the plight of others

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