Where to Begin? Becoming a more globalized teacher can be daunting. For example, teachers get the sense that globalizing their curriculum is good, but have no idea why. Look no further! Below are some important resources to help explain what globalization is and why it matters. These links are especially helpful for teachers who are either new to globalization or have to make a tough sell to their administrators as to why globalization matters.
- Asia Society- A multitude of resources that explains why it is important to prepare our youth to engage in the world.
- Education for Global Interdependence- Raising globally aware citizens matters! This blog has a variety of helpful resources to help teachers and administrators understand why raising globally aware citizens matters.
- Global Competence Certificate- This online graduate level certificate program is designed to give educators the ability to teach global competencies in the classroom (global competence is defined as, "the disposition and capacity to understand and act on issues of global significance”). Teachers who enroll must complete an online course, a field study, and a collaborative capstone. Please be aware that this is not a free program, but it does give you actual graduate credits by the end of it.
- Global Education Checklist- This is an essential inventory to gauge where your school is in terms of implementing globalization strategies.
- Global Teacher Education- This site is largely for academics, not necessarily for teachers. However, it may be worth visiting to see the collection of research and resources that are available, especially if you are just beginning to understand what globalization is and why it is important.
- Penn State-The Center for Global Studies- This site offers explanations of what globalized curriculum is, why it is important to teach, and how to teach it. It also offers some interesting multi-media lessons.
- The Globalization of Education (Stanford)- This article explores the importance of globalization and the role of technology on a grander scale.
- TeachThought- Five characteristics of global learning. A definition of global learning can't get any easier! Follow this read up with "The Definition of Global Learning" and you have yourself a solid idea of what globalized curriculum can potentially be!
- Videos- There are several videos that are excellent when thinking about global learning. Check out the following:
- Heidi Hayes Jacob- Ted Talk that gives a recipe for how to change. She introduces the term "strategic replacements," which pretty much nails the best way to make change.
- Charles Leadbetter- Kids find a way to learn, no matter what. This is very inspiring to watch as a teacher when trying to capture, understand, and overcome the never-ending tide of change in education.
- Ken Robinson- There are two Ted Talks that he did that are pretty good- "How Schools Kill Creativity" (although maybe this should be renamed to states and/or districts) and "How to Escape Education's Death Valley." Inspiring and infuriating at the same time. Regardless, they offer some interesting thought pieces.
Resources/ "How To": Below are resources that are tested by teachers (namely me). They are easy to use, offer everything from quick mini-lessons to unit plan ideas.
- Brown University Choices Program- This is one of my all time favorite resources. I have had many a good debate about historical and contemporary subjects because of the materials gathered and provided by the Choices Program. Check it out- there is something for everyone.
- Connect All Schools- This is a medium to connect schools across the US and the world. This site makes it easy to find other schools to partner with. The blog has some excellent lesson plans. At this point in time, it is free of charge.
- Issues in Depth- Globalization101- Useful resource on all things global. They have topics in all subject areas!
- Omprokash- This is a great resource for project-based learning. They have a great blog that addresses many issuers world-wide, often times posting pictures and videos from the field. It also connects volunteers to areas in need around the world. I have referred many of my high school students to this site to find volunteer opportunities over the summer.
- Primary Source- There are some great professional development opportunities through this organization. In addition, they offer lesson plans that have been created by teachers. Many of these are social studies oriented, but they are worth perusing.
- TeachUnicef-A collection of teacher resources, including videos, podcasts, lesson plans, and reading on global issues. These lessons are cross-curricular- science, social studies, English, Math, and health all could benefit from these lessons.
- US Dept of Education- Teacher's guide to international collaboration on the internet. Some of these ideas are great, some are okay. But it is a great place to get lesson ideas.
Connecting to the World: This is the good stuff. Below are some sites that will put you in contact with other teachers around the world! You can lesson share, Skype, and plan with teachers from Palestine to Papua New Guinea.
- Global Nomads- This is a more structure approach to collaborative learning with classrooms around the US and the world. It offers opportunities for learning of various lengths that happens in collaboration with other schools. There are opportunities for all grades and subjects.
- Google Connected Classrooms- Take your kids on a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian or the Seattle Aquarium. Many of us cannot afford field trips anymore, so bring the world to them using this tool.
- iEarn- This is a fantastic website that connects teachers all over the world. It is kind of spendy, but well worth it.
- Skype in the Classroom- Connect with teachers around the world for free! You do need a camera and microphone, but this is such a cool tool.
- World Wide Match- Peace Corps Volunteers are matched to your classroom! They can be out in the field or former Peace Corps workers that are in your area. One of my classes had conferences with a volunteer in Morocco and some of his students.
Technology in the Classroom: Technology is key for teaching kids to be ready for the 21st century. We need to teach kids how to be critical consumers of information. Technology can often be a vital tool in student-based learning. I already have many different websites listed above, but these are specific to technology tools that kids can use.
- Edutopia- Blogs on Technology- Infinite ways are offered here to use technology in the classroom. If you have IPads, computers, and cameras and want to use them more effectively, come here to see ideas. They follow teachers' blogs, so that is nice because they are ideas from people in the field actually working with the technology.
- Google- Google Drive has radically changed how I communicate with students, how we do group projects in my classroom, and how they interact with material they find online. I strongly encourage teachers to explore the use of the tools provided on Google Drive.
- Ken Halla's Blogs- There are several blogs that he has put together that integrates technology into the social studies classroom: World History, US History, and Government.
- New Technologies and 21st Century Skills- The College of Education at the University of Houston has cataloged useful web tools for educators. It is a pretty handy collection.
There are PLENTY more resources out there. Check out this website if you would like more ideas on project-based learning.
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