Discovery Mountain: 21st Century Learning and Global Awareness

Decades ago, we built global awareness by teaching geography—especially map-location skills—and asking students to read thin novels written about other parts of the world. Books and maps were tools basic to each classroom. We and generations of students learned to use them well.

With awareness heightened by computer use, we are learning new ways to build global awareness skills in our learning spaces. Many of us have begun walking up Discovery Mountain, exploring new ways to help our students learn, fearing whether or not we have skills to survive the avalanche of technology tools. Like many mountain hikers, we ponder whether the vistas at the top are worth the challenges of the climb.

We continue on, climbing for our students, knowing we need to provide them with learning that transcends knowing a country’s location on a map or the glimpse of another culture through one writer’s words.

We learn new tools to help make connections that build global awareness. Our choices are many. Here we brainstorm a few:

Connect to sites on the Internet so students can…

· track explorers on current expeditions

· see images and hear sounds of regions

· participate in an EcoTourism simulation game

· use an interactive abacus for math calculations

· hear recordings of folk tales

· calculate what items cost in other currencies

· take virtual trips to learn the characteristics of specific climates

· experience celebrations around the world in real time

· tour virtual museums

Use web-based communications so students can build relationships with people in other locations (students, military, peace corps, others) and learn about their location, their discoveries.

· Web-conferencing

· E-mail

· Twitter

We must go beyond merely introducing our students to people and places around the globe as we prepare them (1) to understand and address global issues, (2) to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and (3) to develop a spirit of mutual respect for people through an understanding other nations and cultures.