Raising awareness of global citizenship in schools

[Boyd Roberts]

Raising awareness of global citizenship in the school, in general

The IGC Award is involving increasing numbers of participants, but participation is voluntary and so within a school there will be many students not engaged with the Award.

Here are a couple of ways for Award participants to raise awareness of global citizenship within the school, while also clarifying their own ideas. 

1.            As a group, produce a poster saying “We are all global citizens because …..”

This can be done on the basis of students’ perceptions as they stand.

Award participants could also do an Internet search for other views, after they have articulated their own initial views. They can then amend what they say, if they wish. 

2.       Individually, complete the statement; “I am trying to become a better global citizen by ….”

          Review in pairs, groups, and/or with a mentor.

Here is one view of what it means to become a better global citizen:

http://www.globalkidsconnect.org/global-citizen/

 

And as we are an international programme, with centres in different countries, what about sharing ideas with participants in another centre? Or arrange an online session when participants in different centres can share their ideas.

Of course, there is no fixed understanding of what a global citizen is. Part of the purpose of the IGC Award is for individual participants, mentors, and schools more generally to modify and develop their understanding of global citizenship and what it means to be a global citizen through experience and reflection, including participation in the Award.

(In my own case, for instance, I find that environmental concerns and the way in which people relate to the natural world – including natural habitats and other species – seems increasingly important as an aspect of global citizenship. I wonder if this should be given more prominence in the IGC Award. What do you think?)

It can therefore be very helpful to return to any statements participants develop to review them.

 

3.            A letter to myself

Peter Muir suggests that participants starting out on the programme write a letter to themselves explaining their understanding of what it means to be a global citizen. They seal this in an envelope and open it as they come towards the end of their six months’ participation in the programme. They can then respond to their original ideas, on the basis of their participation. This can form a powerful way of reflecting on the impact of their participation on their understanding of themselves as global citizens.

 

What is a global citizen?

 

While working with students on their own ideas about global citizenship, we are prompted to review our own understanding.

Many of you will be familiar with the influential definition is that of development charity Oxfam:

Oxfam sees a global citizen as someone who:

• is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen

• respects and values diversity

• has an understanding of how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically and environmentally

• is outraged by social injustice

• participates in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global

• is willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place

• takes responsibility for their actions

  http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/global-citizenship/what-is-global...

   

  This definition reflects Oxfam’s particular concerns and interests. Personally, I would add two additional elements relating to understanding of other cultures and to the natural world and other species.

   

  What are your views?

   

  An Aside

  I’m reading Alex Standish’s recent book The False Promise of Global Learning: why education needs boundaries. This argues that “global education” is set against more formal education relating to subject knowledge – a view I don’t share.

  While the concept of a global citizen is to an extent a personal view, critical thinking still needs to be used. Some ideas will be better thought out and more complete than others and it seems important to encourage participants to develop the intellectually strongest statements or which they are capable.

  There are other areas relating to the IGC Award where personal opinion is less appropriate. In researching the background to a particular global issue, or the story behind something we buy, ii is important to check facts carefully, and to exercise critical judgement on sources – before forming an opinion of how we should respond personally to our findings.