The Classroom as a Global

Community
By: Noemi M. Villareal, Ph.D.
Characteristics of a
Global Classroom
 The human experience is an increasingly global phenomenon in
which people are constantly being influenced by transnational,
cross-cultural, and multicultural and multiethnic interaction.

 Humankind is highly interdependent with the state of the global

environment.

 The goods we buy, the work we do, the cross-cultural links we

have in our own communities and outside them, and increased
worldwide communication capabilities all contribute to an
imperative that responsible citizens understand global and
international issues.
 There is a wide variety of actors on the world stage, including
states, multinational corporations, and numerous voluntary
nongovernmental organizations, as well as individuals.

 Citizen participation is critical at both local and international

levels.
Long Term Goals of Schools Methods of Implementing Goals

1. To appreciate people from other 1. Help students learn firsthand about

cultures cultures of other countries
2. To develop sensitivity to the needs of 2. Share what they are learning locally
people and globally with others
3. To increase knowledge about people 3. Collaborate on common projects
around the world across national boundaries
4. Study and live in other countries with
Concepts that develop a global students from other countries.
perspective woven throughout curriculum 5. Welcome global career opportunities
6. Develop capacities for success in a
1. Help students develop cognitive skills global village
and attitudes such as empathy,
interconnectedness, perspective
taking, cross-cultural understanding,
action orientation, and prejudice
reduction.
Requirements of teaching
a Globally Oriented
Curriculum
Global perspective is International focus Internationalizing
integrated throughout courses are develop in instructional method
the school curriculum area such as and materials
not just in social anthropology, regional emphasize
studies. history, geography, intercultural
global or world interaction and
Encouraging studies, foreign culturally appropriate
international travel as language study, world methods of instruction
an important part of religion, ethnic group and assessment.
one’s education studies, international Partnership programs
business, music, and with other schools and
art. countries can also be
developed.
Internationalizing the
Disciplines
History and the Social Studies can look at various Reading and language
perspectives on similar issues, (e.g. the British view arts can include world
of the America Revolution, study and discussion of literature
world events) and students can be encouraged to ask
difficult questions.

Science education might Foreign language Mathematics education

include the study of the education can include can include the study of
natural environment and languages of immigrant the metric system and
problems created by and refugee populations, traditional numeration
technology and economic and the role of systems from other
innovations translations in diplomacy. cultures and math
concepts can be taught
using world data and
global issues.
 What should students study in a
global education curriculum?

Global issues,
Culture and
problems and The world
world areas
challenges