Guest post by Jason Van Heukelem, superintendent of Winchester Public Schools.
As human beings, we all have an innate global curiosity. We can usually remember an educator who, through their own interests, fostered that curiosity. Maybe they traveled to a foreign country over summer vacation or hosted exchange students in their home, then came back to lead a small-scale project in our classrooms. These types of educational experiences are imperative in today’s increasingly global society.
The question we have to ask, however, is how can we make global learning accessible to all students, across all types of communities, both rural and urban? How can we make global competencies whole-school initiatives, instead of a special program only available to a select group of students? How can we create global programs that grow global citizens?
The goal of a global program is to help students realize who they are as cultural beings – in both local and global contexts. We want students to become aware of global issues, yes, but to also have a broader view that encompasses the communities around them. We also want students to have innate curiosities and to take action on those deep inquiries.
In the seven years we’ve been collaborating with global schools, we’ve found that successful, sustainable programs include:
Increased student engagement and achievement, boosted college and career-readiness and heightened teacher retention rates are a result of our framework. We support educators as they explore, experiment and reflect upon their global education journeys.
Global citizenship means having an understanding and awareness of a wider world and one’s collective and individual place in it. As educators, we are challenged with teaching the next generation of global citizens to be empathetic, active members of society.
By creating programs with frameworks that encompass the above components, we can build schools that support students in becoming lifelong, global learners.
Learn more about Participate Learning’s global programs.
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