Breaking boundaries: The impact of Global Education
It is evident that the framework is there to support global education. The innovation that is being seen in curricula worldwide is a sure way of preparing global citizens.
There are plenty of buzz words that you can refer to, each aiming to shape how society should behave. Among them is Global Education. It is a system of learning that focuses on the development of knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills necessary for securing a peaceful and just world. The word is a result of the 2013 UNESCO meetings, where the consensus was that education plays a crucial role in achieving world peace.
The outcome of the meetings is a set of five objectives that educators globally should strive to achieve. They are:
Shaping the learner's attitude to accept that despite people possessing different abilities, they are all equal.
Providing learners with the opportunity to know about global issues and universal values.
Develop a child's cognitive skills in critical thinking, logical reasoning, and creativity.
Develop the learner's social skills to enable them to interact with people on a global level.
Promote a learner's ability to collaborate and take responsibility in shaping society for the better.
Schools around the world are continually formulating unique programs that involve activities that work towards achieving the above. Here are the common themes that suffice:
Fostering a collective identity
Educators must ensure that their students understand that individuals have unique abilities. And that, when these come together, society benefits as a whole. In India, the different education boards encourage schools to further their student's knowledge beyond academics. A collective identity is one that recognizes everyone as equal, regardless of their culture, ethnicity, religion or race.
Different schools have come up with unique learning frameworks to promote these values of equality. For example, the Global Indian International School has a dynamic, holistic education framework known as 9GEMS. Keeping in line with the above objective, students at the school take part in programs that promote universal values and ethics. The program follows the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi to develop the child's humility and respect for others
Inclusive education
More schools are opening their doors to special populations. There is a steady decline of schools that cater the deaf, physically-disabled, blind, among other special populations. Students are mixing freely in classrooms, and all students have equal opportunities. School administrators are also making changes to their facilities to make them accessible to special populations. As you visit schools, you will notice the presence of access ramps and modified bathrooms.
Student exchange programs
Education institutions are offering more opportunities for students to interact with their peers in other regions of the world. The exchanges are beneficial in creating a better understanding of how activities happen on the other side. Students can participate in collaborative projects with their peers in a different country and then present the results as one team.
Digitization of the classroom
Learning is no longer happening in the classroom alone. Different institutions have purpose-built labs where students can engage in projects to express their creativity. These facilities are available to learners of all levels. Facilities include science laboratories, music rooms, and Art & Craft labs.
Students can also access lectures, textbooks, and other learning material online. On top of this, some institutions have automated the taking of assessments and their grading. By allowing children to get exposed to technology at an early level, they are better prepared to face a future of complete digitisation.
Increased corporate social responsibility
Institutions are now encouraging student-run community programs. Students organize initiatives that have a positive impact on society. Depending on the capability of the school, initiatives may include food drives, tree planting or community clean-ups. Children get first-hand experience in community interaction and get to see how their actions contribute to the growth of their surroundings.
Students at the Global Indian International School take part in charity drives and resource conservation. The purpose of this is to develop each child's emotional and spiritual well-being.
Child-centric education programs
Schools are adapting the way they teach children. It is no longer about written examinations alone. Educators now understand that children have different learning capabilities. Learners now have individualized learning programs where they can study as per their preferred methods. Teachers undertake adaptive assessments to see how a child is progressing. Based on the results, they tweak their teaching method to optimise information retention.
The practice of punishing a child for being wrong is slowly disappearing. Children are given room to work out solutions for themselves. Not only does this promote innovation, but also makes learning less stressful for the child.
Specialist staff
Institutions are hiring more specialist staff to promote holistic learning at their campuses. Among the professionals who have made their way into schools are child psychologists, sports coaches and laboratory assistants, to name a few. The presence of a specialized educator enables children to learn from subject matter experts, rather than the general knowledge of yesteryears.