Initial ResearchThe topic of Global Citizenship has always been something of interest to me as a person but has taken on a whole new level of interest and value to me as an educator. I've personally made it my goal to understand this better and more in depth. But to also take action myself. At my school there is a program in place called Project Wisdom where students and staff can participate in global learning and citizenship through service projects. I am starting to partner with the coordinating project manager to not only get my students involved but to also get involved myself.
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What I've already done... |
This is an important question that every educator must ask themselves but equally important is then finding ways to practically facilitate it. This is an important topic to me as a social studies educator because it's something that I've always known the answer too but have struggled with making its answer a reality for my students. There have been so many PLT’s, Staff/Professional Development Sessions, and conferences that herald these phrases and concepts but overwhelmingly I’ve not seen an overall, comprehensive push in American Education to really embracing teaching this too our students. Personally I've tried the "follow current events" thing where they watch something like CNN Student News and participate in the weekly quizzes or I have also had students complete weekly "Current Hot Topics/Global Events" blogs where they note global events and say what they think is happening. However, that's where it ended; on the surface of acknowledging global issues. In talking to my colleagues, I’m finding the majority feel the same way.
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Why it's not enough... |
We all know that we should be teaching students about global events/issues however for the most part we are lacking a way to go beyond that point and engaging students in real, authentic activism. Not only is this conversation important but I have also wandered and struggled with what happens when a student leaves my classroom and they aren’t bound to a grade to be actively engaged or involved with Global Issues/problems or the idea of Global Citizenship over all. As educators while we are preparing our students to live fully engaged with the 21st Century world around them. To do that we have to understand and teach the different perspectives/positions that come with Global Citizenship and to assist in that process I inquired to find other professionals in the field that have also considered this topic.
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