About this website:
This site houses my Capstone Project for U.S Department of State fellowship I held during 2014-2015 in the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. The site contains educational research, a list of global connections for educators, and the blog I created during my TGC field experience in Brazil.
About the author:
Kathy Heinen teaches Spanish at Oshkosh West High School in Oshkosh, WI. She was motivated to learn more about global education after founding the Oshkosh West Academy for Global Studies, which is an interdisciplinary school-within-a-school. Students in the Academy use technology for inquiry-based learning. Students blend Spanish, Social Studies, English, Leadership and Business courses in thematic learning units. How are students learning about global issues in other parts of the U.S. and throughout the world? And how can Oshkosh, Wisconsin connect in a meaningful way to learners around the world? The TGC experience was a starting point for those questions. I look forward to sharing resources and connecting with other teachers who are interested in connecting classrooms from around the world.
What is global education?
The 21st Century term "global citizen" refers to the idea that many people have a sense of belonging to a world community. When we watch television and see disasters that are affecting people on the other side of the globe, we feel a connection to them and identify with their struggles. Likewise, global citizens see that their local actions can have implications on a global scale. As our global infrastructure improves, many people will visit places that are far from their homes and will produce products that will be used on other continents.
How can we make sense of this huge planet? Global education strives to help us see the uniqueness of our cultures, and also to see how all cultures have common features. Some critics fear that if we consider ourselves to be global citizens we lose our identity and allegiance to our own country. On the contrary, a global education helps us understand that we have an added layer of responsibility beyond that to our country; we also are responsible for being members of a world-wide community.
How can we make sense of this huge planet? Global education strives to help us see the uniqueness of our cultures, and also to see how all cultures have common features. Some critics fear that if we consider ourselves to be global citizens we lose our identity and allegiance to our own country. On the contrary, a global education helps us understand that we have an added layer of responsibility beyond that to our country; we also are responsible for being members of a world-wide community.
Disclaimer:
This website is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.