Global Village
Global Village Learning Activity
Overview
The Global Village Activity involves each student in a class taking the role of a person from around the world in proportion to the population in various countries and regions. Students are initially asked to obtain more information about key aspects in the life of his or her “global villager” and then to explore, to varying degrees, how the global villager is impacted by specific global challenges and issues such as population, resources, technology, and conflict. Click here for additional background information on the global village activity.
Global Citizenship Objectives Addressed (K=knowledge; S=skill; A=attitude)*
K1. Describe important current events and global issues (e.g., environment, economic, political, health, population)
K2. Understand and analyze issues and events in the context of world geography.
K3. Explain how historical forces impact current events and issues.
K4. Describe cultures from around the world, including religions, language, customs, and traditions
K5. Identify transnational organizations (e.g., NGOs, multinational corporations) and their impact on current issues.
K6. Explain the interdependence of events and systems.
K7. Describe how one’s own culture and history affect one’s worldview and expectations.
S1. Obtain relevant information related to the knowledge competencies listed above.
S2. Analyze and evaluate the quality of information obtained.
S3. Think critically about problems and issues.
S4. Communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
S5. Communicate and interact effectively across cultures.
A1. Be open to new ideas and perspectives.
A2. Value differences among people and cultures.
A3. Be intellectually curious about the world.
A4. Be humble, recognizing the limitations of one’s knowledge and skills.
A5. Reflect on one’s place in the world and connection with humanity.
A6. Engage in an ethical analysis of issues and have empathy for one’s fellow human beings.
* Any of these objectives can be acheived depending on the adaptation of this activity.
Global Challenges addressed**
Population (growth, aging, urbanization, migration)
Resources (food, water, energy, climate change)
Technology (computation, biotechnology, nanotechnology, transhumanism)
Information (data growth, access, social networking, information Integrity, knowledge)
Economies (interconnections, emerging players, debt, poverty)
Conflict (causes of conflict, nature of conflict, conflict resolution)
Governance (state actors, international organizations, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations)
** Any of these challenges can be addressed depending on the adaptation of this activity.
Description of Teaching and Learning Activity
Students are assigned to take the role of people around the world in proportion to the population of various countries and regions. An overview of the Global Village Activity can be downloaded below, and the Global Village Student Assignment sheet (also below) gives more specific guidance. Denny Falk asks students to complete an introductory blog in which each student provides requested information about her or his "global villager," and then asks students to complete another blog for each of seven global challenges (see above) to explain how the global villager and his or her country is affected by the global challenge. Resources for students to complete the blogs, a sample blog, and rubric to guide students and assist in grading/assessment can be downloaded as handouts below.
Many instructors have modified the Global Village assignment for their specific purposes. Some examples of these teaching and learning modifications are available.
Related Handouts
The handouts for the Global Village activity are available in either Microsoft Word (docx), Microsoft Excel (xlsx), or portable document file (pdf) formats below:
Global Village Activity Overview (docx) (pdf)
Global Village Student Assignment Sheet (xlsx) (pdf)
Sample Global Village Blog (docx) (pdf)
Resources for Completing a Global Village Blog (docx) (pdf)
Rubric for Global Village Introductory Information (docx) (pdf)