Global learning is a process of facilitating educational experiences that allow students to appreciate diverse perspectives, understand the connections they have to the wider world, respectively and effectively communicate and collaborate across cultures and countries, and use disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge to investigate and take action on issues that matter to them and the wider world. This process cannot be conducted as a particular course or a subject in the curriculum. It should be acquired through exposure to various global issues and the perspective gained thereof. Communication and international engagement is the fundamental to ‘Global learning’. Furthermore, global learning can lead to the following holistic student outcomes that lead to academic success and overall well-being.
Student Engagement
Research shows that when students learn content through authentic tasks and real-world experiences, they are more likely to engage, which in turn leads to higher attendance and achievement. Global education directly engages students with real-world issues and activities. What better way to teach the skills of writing an argumentative essay by let them having a debate on global current events pulled straight from the headlines?
College and Career Readiness:
Employers today are desperate to higher graduates with cross-cultural skills that allow them to work in diverse teams and with clients all over the world. By providing students with opportunities to understand the wider world and the diversity of people, cultures, and perspectives in it, schools are also giving students a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Social-Emotional Learning:
Learning from and with the world doesn’t only benefit students’ academic development, but contributes to their social-emotional development as well. Education derived from a global perspective helps develop self-awareness of one’s own identity, culture, beliefs and how those connect with the wider world, social awareness including empathy, perspective-taking, appreciating diversity, and respecting others, and relationship-building skills with diverse individuals and groups through effective communication and collaboration.
Student Empowerment:
Global learning enables students to take purposeful action to improve their own lives and to positively influence the world around them. When students are provided opportunities to investigate issues they deem, unpack why these issues exist, and come up with solutions to make them better, they become empowered to be the catalysts of the changes they wish to see.
To sum it up education obtained globally is an effective way to support students’ holistic academic, social, and emotional development. Teachers, leaders, and community members all have a role to play in leading global initiatives that turn classrooms and schools into windows to the world.
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