All journeys,
whether in the mind
or in the physical world,
help one to become more than before.
Entrance to one of the Great Pyramids, Egypt. (July 2011, photo taken by M. Sprague)
Photo Below: University of the Middle East Collaborative Art Project for teachers from the United States and Morocco, and involving students in Rabat and Tiznet. Ms. Sprague's group rehearsing their performance art piece created from their group poem. (Rabat, Morocco)
How to Use This Guide (Website): An Introduction
One important definition of global competence was published in 2011 by the Global Competence Task Force—a group of state education agency leaders, education scholars, and practitioners—under the auspices of the Council of Chief State School Officers EdSteps initiative (CCSSO-EdSteps) and the Asia Society Partnership for Global Learning. The definition is as follows:
“Global competence is the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance. Globally competent individuals are aware, curious, and interested in learning about the world and how it works. They can use the big ideas, tools, methods, and languages that are central to any discipline (mathematics, literature, history, science, and the arts) to engage the pressing issues of our time. They deploy and develop this expertise as they investigate such issues, recognizing multiple perspectives, communicating their views effectively, and taking action to improve conditions” (Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Youth to Engage the World, p. xiii).
This same source put forward a matrix for Global Competence that included: (1) Investigate the World beyond their immediate environment, framing significant problems and conducting well-crafted and age-appropriate research; (2) Recognize Perspectives, others’ and their own, articulating and explaining such perspectives thoughtfully and respectfully; (3) Communicate Ideas effectively with diverse audiences, bridging geographic, linguistic, ideological, and cultural barriers; and (4) Take Action to improve conditions, viewing themselves as players in the world and participating reflectively. These competencies fit well with the 21st Century Skills requirements, the mission of the International Academy at our school (Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex – JSEC) and the curricula for the course I teach, How the World Works. Since globalization affects every nation and individual in this world in some way, it is key that students are prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world.
The goal of this website is to serve the JSEC International Academy, and any interested JSEC teacher who integrates or wants to integrate global education into their curriculum. It is also hoped that my MENA colleagues will be able to use this website as a resource for teaching global studies, and for teaching their students about collaboration and civic engagement. It is hoped that this website reassures and encourages teachers to include global components in their curriculum.
This website is linked to a website started by my colleague, Polly Barnes, and together we will better coordinate the content of these two websites. They might be expanded to include pages for other teachers to post information on their travels and classes, especially their activities/lessons/units/resources that include international connections or global competencies. I have already enlisted foreign language, science, environmental science, and at least one math teacher for this future expansion.
Included in this website are sections useful for both students and teachers. The blog, IREX TGC: Morocco (Mar.2013) gives both the chance to comment on my experiences and learning during this magical and important trip. Under How the World Works tab, there are guides for student work required by the curriculum, as well as subsections that highlight civic engagement projects such as the Veteran’s Appreciation Day project, Peace One Day Collaboration, and the Global Nomads Group, Youth Talk project. Also under the How the World Works tab is the resource page will house resources that can be used to enhance the instruction and position of the International Academy. Links to partners and other resources will be expanded.
There is a link to this website and my Pinterest site on the school’s webpage www.juanitasanchez.org and it is hoped that the school community (teachers, parents, students and partners) will be interested in “checking it out”. ---Marty Sprague
“Global competence is the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance. Globally competent individuals are aware, curious, and interested in learning about the world and how it works. They can use the big ideas, tools, methods, and languages that are central to any discipline (mathematics, literature, history, science, and the arts) to engage the pressing issues of our time. They deploy and develop this expertise as they investigate such issues, recognizing multiple perspectives, communicating their views effectively, and taking action to improve conditions” (Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Youth to Engage the World, p. xiii).
This same source put forward a matrix for Global Competence that included: (1) Investigate the World beyond their immediate environment, framing significant problems and conducting well-crafted and age-appropriate research; (2) Recognize Perspectives, others’ and their own, articulating and explaining such perspectives thoughtfully and respectfully; (3) Communicate Ideas effectively with diverse audiences, bridging geographic, linguistic, ideological, and cultural barriers; and (4) Take Action to improve conditions, viewing themselves as players in the world and participating reflectively. These competencies fit well with the 21st Century Skills requirements, the mission of the International Academy at our school (Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex – JSEC) and the curricula for the course I teach, How the World Works. Since globalization affects every nation and individual in this world in some way, it is key that students are prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world.
The goal of this website is to serve the JSEC International Academy, and any interested JSEC teacher who integrates or wants to integrate global education into their curriculum. It is also hoped that my MENA colleagues will be able to use this website as a resource for teaching global studies, and for teaching their students about collaboration and civic engagement. It is hoped that this website reassures and encourages teachers to include global components in their curriculum.
This website is linked to a website started by my colleague, Polly Barnes, and together we will better coordinate the content of these two websites. They might be expanded to include pages for other teachers to post information on their travels and classes, especially their activities/lessons/units/resources that include international connections or global competencies. I have already enlisted foreign language, science, environmental science, and at least one math teacher for this future expansion.
Included in this website are sections useful for both students and teachers. The blog, IREX TGC: Morocco (Mar.2013) gives both the chance to comment on my experiences and learning during this magical and important trip. Under How the World Works tab, there are guides for student work required by the curriculum, as well as subsections that highlight civic engagement projects such as the Veteran’s Appreciation Day project, Peace One Day Collaboration, and the Global Nomads Group, Youth Talk project. Also under the How the World Works tab is the resource page will house resources that can be used to enhance the instruction and position of the International Academy. Links to partners and other resources will be expanded.
There is a link to this website and my Pinterest site on the school’s webpage www.juanitasanchez.org and it is hoped that the school community (teachers, parents, students and partners) will be interested in “checking it out”. ---Marty Sprague