"Why does this matter to me, to my people and place, and to the world? It’s about the habitual orientation toward connecting the local and the global."
--Veronica Boix Mansilla, principal investigator of Harvard University’s Project Zero
I've developed an acronym stating what is needed for globally-minded instruction to work:
S--Support for teachers to develop curriculum that is meaningful in a 21st century world;
P-Place instruction--students need to know their own culture and sense of place in the world;
O--Opportunity allotted for global exploration within any curriculum;
R--Reflective practice where students can express and recognize their own perspectives and understandings of the world;
T--Time given for students to utilize their talents to take action for global impact.
Students in the United States are growing up in communities that are more diverse than ever before. They study with students who may speak and worship differently than they are used to. Their peers may come from families with differing values and world views than they have.
How can we teach our students and their parents to view these differences as assets instead of threats? They will need to reflect on what they believe personally, and what their community values. They should not sacrifice their cultures, histories, traditions. and core values, but should learn how to communicate in ways that anticipate how others are likely to perceive them. They will need to listen for understanding, rather than for judgement, finding commonalities, and being slow to find offense.
Any subject taught can be made more "glocal" by introducing students to different traditions and histories in order for students to ask how those traditions compare and contrast to what they believe. Refer to the page Teach: A lesson plan example to see how I teach the 4 domains of global competence in my French classroom.
"Global Competence is the capacity to examine local, global, and intercultural issues; to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others; to engage in open, appropriate, and effective interactions with people from different cultures, and to act for collective well-being and sustainable development."
The graphic below from the Asia Society shows the four domains for a globally competent lesson:
Rubric for Global Competency in Google Site (1).pdfA rubric I use to help students see growth as global citizens. (from Fairfax County Public Schools).
WORLDLANGUAGESGlobalCompetenceMatrix.pdfA global Competence matrix for considering how global competence is being taught in a World Language classroom.
FCPS's Global Classroom Project is an opportunity for all subjects and age levels to collaborate with students and teachers internationally. This is a presentation I made intended to inform World Language teachers in the county on how to participate, its purpose, and the value it brings to the classroom.
These presentational slides were developed to educate other Fairfax County Public School teachers about a wonderful opportunity for global exchange--the Global Classroom Partnership (GCP). It allows teachers in any subject or grade level to connect with a teacher abroad to instruct and guide students toward taking action for a better world.
For the past 2 years, my students were able to email students in France and then in Morocco through the program. This year, I am teaming with a teacher in Senegal and we plan to guide our students toward taking action for improvement with the UN SDG 4: education for all! Click here for more information
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award made by a state department of education or local district to recognize a student who has attained proficiency in English and one or more other world languages by high school graduation. The Seal serves to certify attainment of biliteracy for students, employers and institutions of higher education. It is a statement of accomplishment that helps to signal evidence of a student’s readiness for career and college, and for engagement as a global citizen.
The Washington, DC area has many opportunities for global learning, including the embassies. Every May, as part of International Cultural Awareness Month, the embassies open their doors for anyone to explore (and visit!) their country!
Additionally, check the embassy websites for events happening throughout the year!
Each summer, the National Mall is a free opportunity for students to explore many aspects of global culture!
Explore the world from home through Resources in AFS-USA's website: https://www.afsusa.org/explore/#afs-nav-countries
