Reflection of Youtube clip ‘The World is Flat’ author Thomas Friedman
How will globalization affect you as a learner and as a teacher?
With increased globalization, my role as an informed citizen is a continual process. Change is inevitable; with growing global access to the internet/ technologies the world more interconnected than ever. The most significant change is that knowledge is assessable; I am able to know what happening around the globe with the click of a mouse. This means that I need to hone in on my critical thinking skills, repeatedly asking ‘how will this affect Canada’s role in the World and how will this affect my community and my role in society?’
Globalization affects my role as a teacher, by changing the structure of my classroom. Utilizing the same materials and resources from previous years may deem irrelevant to future students. Students who have grown up with technology are more adept to utilizing devices and software programs, I need to educate myself and become proficient with the technologies I utilize so that the technologies are an aid not a hindrance or source of boredom. I must always update my technological infusion. As well as being an informed global citizen who bringing’s in topics of discussion on a regular basis.
How will it affect your students and how will this/ should this affect the teaching of Social Studies?
In essence I will need to think beyond the school/community that I’m teaching at, I will need to ‘teach from a globalize perspective.’ Students are in an environment where they are able they are constantly transforming how they think and process ideas/ technologies. From a cognitive perspective, students have preconceived ideas/ notions that they are bringing into the classroom, the teachers’ job is to effectively help aid in the scaffolding. We do not know what jobs or technologies will be provided in the future but developing strategic thinking strategies will help students to adapt. We cannot teach from a unilateral perspective anymore, countries interact with each other in such a dependent fashion that we need students to realize the importance of global issues.
Photograph taken by Royce Blare