Global Awareness in Education America has a widespread lack of knowledge in the world around us as most of our society remains ill-informed about foreign currency, traditions or policies. Americans often state that other countries have more knowledge about the world and are able to better adapt to travels beyond their area. One of the matters to blame for our lack of knowledge in the world beyond us is our American education system and the inability to mold students into globally aware citizens. The article, “School of Education at Johns Hopkins University-The Merge of Global Awareness and Classroom Culture: Helping Future Teachers Meet New Challenges” by Camille A. Allen and George Antone of Salve Regina University explains the importance …show more content…
First I have learned in many of my classes that working with the ELL students in your classroom and sharing information about where they are from and what traditions they are accustomed to is a great opportunity to introduce the world beyond America to students. Second, from the presentation our class received about refugee students, there are many opportunities and services for teachers to use to become more familiar with the world beyond them and transfer the knowledge to the students. Finally, I have also learned from the presentation that America is severely lacking in the amount of knowledge in other countries and places. Teachers need to be aware of the lack and educate themselves to make better, smarter and more prepared students. Global awareness in education is something that is not talked about much, but is an issue within American schooling. Many American students have little to no knowledge on important aspects to their outside world. Since American teachers have been taught through the education system growing up, it is important that they are able to research and become knowledgeable on such aspects to our outside world. In this way, according to Allen and Antone students are able to stay engaged, understand their world beyond their own community and be more successful as
America now knows where they stand on the totem pole regarding education. Having a powerful military and democratic government will only get Americans so far as being a world leader. Teaching American students rigorously will increase America’s dominance as a country and as a people for generations. Teachers are an essential need in America. The United States often takes teachers for granted and if the U.S. government helps educators by improving the quality of their teaching, students will succeed in the classroom. America can perhaps no longer be a country with a zombie-like attitude, but a country thriving with accomplished students supported by the community around them.
Considering every single student’s ethnicity could lead to the problem of teachers providing different kinds of information for different students. I am of the opinion that every student needs to be taught the same information, everything else would simply be unfair. Of course, different students understand different kinds of information better or harder, but that does not mean that it is right not to give each student the same opportunity to get information. I think all students should be taught the same variety of methods, but considering each student's ethnicity, they should be given the opportunity to find out what methods suit best for them individually. Learning experiences outside the classroom, such as field trips, movies, etc. are also very important, not only to support the classroom learning and to provide a lively and life-changing learning experience, but also to give the students a chance to communicate in an out-of-classroom situation that is more connected to their lives than the theoretical world of the classroom.
There are several key ideas that are crucial to understanding the best way to teach young, ELL students. The first idea is the importance of recognizing ELL’s feelings of isolation and alienation. When a teacher recognizes this, they are more capable of helping the student feel a part of the class. The student will struggle to participate if they do not feel like they belong with the other students. There is not only a language barrier, but also sociocultural differences that prohibit them from feeling accepted. Tiffany emphasizes the importance of acknowledging this problem and being aware during classroom activities. She suggests that you get a deep understanding of their cultural background, not just a “touristy” one.
Poplin, M. (1999). The global classroom of the 21st century: Lessons from Mother Teresa and imperatives from Columbine. Educational Horizons, 78(1), 30-38.
More studies should be done to promote a better understanding among teachers regarding similarities and differences that exist in educational practices in developed and developing countries.
West, Martin. "Global lessons for improving U.S. Education: international comparisons of student achievement illustrate the gains possible for students in the United States and offer insights on how to achieve them." Issues in Science and Technology: n. pag. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. (“West”)
These lessons are important in the classroom for several reasons. First off, we as teachers need to find ways to make sure that students from all ethnic backgrounds are included in classroom discussions and that they have the ability to apply themselves to the material taught in the classroom. However, teachers also need to realize that these practices need to be implemented so that stereotypes among the different cultures do not
While many Americans, and even more unfortunate is American teachers, claim that global education would harm American values and go against what America stands for (Webb), a global education presents the ability to either properly expand upon one’s knowledge of the world with accurate information about their true culture and their language, or a global education could either undeservingly demote or promote a country to a ranking it may or may not deserve. Without global education, our future generations will face unnecessary challenges and face the possibility of destroying everything that we, the world, built upon to maintain
Strauss, Valerie. "Where U.S. Stands in Education Internationall." Washington Post. N.p., 25 June 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
Hauhart, Robert C., and Jeff Birkenstein. "Globals" And The American Dream: A Survey Of Student Aspirations In An American Studies Course." Perspectives On Global Development & Technology 12.1/2 (2013): 355-374. Business Source Complete. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
In a recent study, the National Geographic Society and the Asia Society shed light on a growing concern that showed students from the United States lacked understanding and knowledge of different people, places, and cultures around the world. This growing concern demanded higher-quality education as well as for teachers to understand the value and necessity of developing lessons based on global education. Since the 1980s, the United States government has tried repeatedly to introduce and incorporate multiculturalism and global education into the system but was met with hostility and protests by many of its citizens. Many protestors believed that global education introduces anti-Americanism, and that multiculturalism introduces and encourages "separatism and disunity". Therefore, it is important and necessary to inform and introduce the general public to the benefits of global education, or cultural education in general to our youth. This will help rise a more knowledgeable generation that is better equipped to deal, communicate, understand, and help the rest of the world.
Globalization has many implications for leadership today and in the future. Global perspectives are being spread to the farthest points in the world and to the most isolated people. People of different cultures come to the United States daily to live, travel, or engage in business. Leaders must respond to this challenge of globalization so they can effectively reach out to as many people as possible. Opening themselves to the world's changes allows leaders to compare and contrast their culture with the arts, language, beliefs, customs, philosophies, and ways of living of other people. By observing and questioning another culture, leaders can understand the origin of an individual's viewpoints and become more sensitive to the cultural needs of that individual. By continually exposing themselves to other cultures, young leaders can thoroughly develop this global perspective and devote themselves to making connections with the entire world.
Diversity in classrooms can open student’s minds to all the world has to offer. At times diversity and understanding of culture, deviant experiences and perspectives can be difficult to fulfill, but with appropriate strategies and resources, it can lead students to gain a high level of respect for those unlike them, preferably from a judgmental and prejudiced view. Diversity has a broad range of spectrums. Students from all across the continent; students from political refugees, indigenous Americans, and immigrants bring their cultural and linguistic skills to American classrooms. Students not only bring their cultural and linguistic skills, but they bring their ethnicity, talents, and skills.
Presenting the students with complicated situations and looking for real life solutions are ways we promote global knowledge. Developing skills and objectives that requires students to think and produce outside their normal thinking capacity is creative work done with their minds. Teachers, leaders, parents and other school staff are constantly pushing the students to develop skills to encourage in depth thinking and reasoning skills. Adapting to change, working harder, thinking and communication skills are of high demand at my school also. Managing time, learning, and focusing on all parts of the world are highly taught and encouraged so students will be to function and survive in unfamiliar
CHENG, Yin Cheong. Fostering Local Knowledge and Wisdom in Globalized Education: Multiple Theories. Bangkok, Thailand: Centre for Research and International Collaboration Hong Kong Institute of Education, 2002.