GLOBAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM

Prof. Genevieve Wanjala PhD. P-O Hansson

INTRODUCTION

• How and to what extent do these regional and global interactions affect the behavior of those of us who are involved in education ; particularly our behavior in the classroom? To answer this question appropriately , we need to have a clear understanding of what globalization really is.

GLOBALIZATION DEFINED

• globalization can be used to refer to those spatial and temporal processes of change which underpin a transformation in the organization of human affairs by linking together and expanding human activity across regions and continents. [WIKIPEDIA]

• a process of world shrinkage of distance getting shorter and things moving closer [Larson]

GLOBALIZATION AND EDUCATION

• The quality and quantity of education determine whether and how a country can participate in the processes of globalization. Slowly and surely , a type of education has been appearing in our pronouncements and policy documents , that is , global education. What , then , are the global issues in the classroom?

GLOBAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM

• create global citizens• knowledge and understanding• values and attitudes• skill and processes• action and participation

TEACHING WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

• Learning Processes • To what extent do we have inclusive classrooms

where we encourage participation for all? • What methods/techniques do we use to do

this? [Student-centred learning ? Experiential learning? Inquiry-based learning?]

• How do facilitate Inter-activity ; building self esteem?

TEACHING WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE CONTD.

• Dealing with controversial issues• How do we facilitate students to balance study

with critical appraisal ? • How do we enable students to develop

individual informed opinions? • How do we ensure students acquire skills to

formulate arguments using evidence? • How do we nurture students’ commitment to

human rights?

TEACHING WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE CONTD

• Practising active citizenshipTo what extent do facilitate students’ • involvement in community activities and

campaigns? • identify , investigate and evaluate alternative

courses of action? • devise strategies to overcome barriers to active

participation? • reflect and evaluate effectiveness of action?