top of page

Helping Educators in the Classroom to Build Global Citizens

Updated: Aug 18, 2020


Students need to find their purpose in learning to succeed both in terms of completion of classroom tasks and in the eventual long term application of their learning. Student often complain that they do not learn anything that is relevant to their lives during the formative primary and secondary school years. Current global challenges may transform this sentiment, but educators will be increasingly tasked with creating links between the curriculum and “real life”.


Beyond developing these linkages to student lives, it is critical to highlight purpose and impact from learning. Educators should start by understanding the student as a whole person, what is important to them, their values, beliefs, and goals in life. These conversations can begin to encourage students to connect values and goals that may be related to their purpose in life.1 These initial conversations can lead to a direct connection then to the disciplines taught in elementary and secondary school and then how their learning can be used to improve their lives, that of their families and communities.


The above discussion provides students the first opportunity to learn what it means to be a global citizen and the needed knowledge and skill sets to function in this role. Educators are encouraged to further extend the discussion to the 17 UN Sustainable development goals. As we know, in 2015, 193 countries of the United Nations launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to help find solutions for poverty, equality, justice, climate change, and to stop damage to the environment. The 17 goals include:

Goal 1: No Poverty

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Goal 4: Quality Education

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Goal 13: Climate Action

Goal 14: Life Below Water

Goal 15: Life on Land

Goal 16: Peace and Justice

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals


In order to create a tangible link between student lives and these goals, the whole student concept continues to provide an excellent framework. By holistically understand the whole student's needs, experiences and context, educators can frame these goals as opportunities to augment the quality of life for those in their communities. Active learning, where students participate in the learn process, is paramount. Students need to be fully engaged in discussions, peer to peer learning, teacher to peer learning, external expert to student learning as they seek new opportunities to become global citizens. Story-writing, media arts, the visual arts, design thinking can be used to not only convey the focus of each goal, but the solutions that students are capable of implementing. If students are to accept the urgent need for global citizenship, the goals and solutions must be expressed from the student perspective namely-"What can i do today to enable their achievement? What knowledge and skills do I need to enable their achievement tomorrow?"

Visit our educator tab to learn more about the workshops and training modules we offer to support you in developing the need curriculum to enable the whole student and the development of global citizenship.


1) Cox, J. Teaching Strategies to Help Students Find Their Purpose.


24 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page