LO #6: global engagement

Exemplar reflection(s) at the bottom of the page.

Video tutorial

Descriptor: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance. Descriptor: Students are able to identify and demonstrate their understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions, and take appropriate action in response to the issue either locally, nationally or internationally.

The student:

• recognizes the global implications of local issues;
• is able to identify global issues in the local or national community;
• shows awareness of issues of global importance and takes concrete and appropriate actions in response to them either locally, nationally or internationally;
• gets involved in CAS projects addressing global issues in a local, national or international context;
• develops awareness and responsibility towards a shared humanity.

Ideas and tips: Global engagement does not necessarily mean that you work in another country or host a foreign exchange student. Think about how your experiences exhibit a focus on issues that affect the greater Northern Virginia community, Commonwealth of Virginia, East Coast of the U.S., United States, North America, Western Hemisphere, and earth. Wow. What I mean is that you are focusing on issues that other communities are dealing with: ecology, protests against and for government, raising literacy, civil and equal rights, income disparity, STE(A)M education, etc. Think about issues of global engagement, i.e. common issues the entire world is engaged in. Some students reference their involvement in InspireUSA, Model U.N., D.C. Ambassadors, etc. Others deal with this Learning Outcome by working abroad or teaching a language. You do you.

You don’t have to work with a community across the globe if you are focused on something that the entire world is focused on. If you are helping second-language learners, then you are focusing on issues of global significance. If you are working on an exchange, you are most certainly engaged in the world at large. However, you can also start with your own community by engaging girls in STE(A)M education based on the gender disparity in women in STE(A)M careers. You must figure out and explain why your example is a global issue of significance. Here are a few examples:

• access to music education and instruments
• ecology
• mental health and mental awareness
• working with underprivileged populations
• protests against and for government
• raising literacy
• civil and equal rights
• wealth disparities
• environmental sustainability
• gender inequality
• STE(A)M education
• access to technology
• cultural assimilation
• cultural understanding
• health issues, e.g. obesity, nutrition, etc.

Resources

• Check out the United Nation's "Global Issues Overview"
• "About the Sustainable Development Goals": The United Nations created these goals. "The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. Click on any specific Goal below to learn more about each issue."

Questions:

• How are you tackling an issue that multiple communities deal with?
• How are you developing a concept of shared problems? Shared successes?
• What specific needs do you see in your community? How might other communities share these needs?

Task: Engage issues that communities small and large all deal with.

United Nations website on global issues

United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Exemplar reflections

I have chosen reflections that move toward the goals of stronger reflections even if they are not the best reflections. As you will read at the bottom of all of my samples, there is always room for improvement. This example shows you how you can begin to deal with this Learning Outcome.