Globalization and our Schools

Globalization is affecting our classrooms, culturally, linguistically, technologically, environmentally, economically, politically, socially, and the list goes on. Many of the developments that go along with Globalization, such as technological developments, provide new opportunities and productive changes in our classrooms and education system. However, we must also grapple with the pace of Globalization and the stresses that occur due to copious amounts of rapid changes! After all, we still need to navigate and manage our time, learning curves, and learning processes surrounding the integration of new technologies into our cognitive schemas.

Along with Globalization, comes waves of emerging concerns for our schools and school communities. For instance, with the growth of Social Media, we can also experience increased degrees of social fragmentation, in addition to new forms of bullying issues. I recently even heard something about a new Mental Illness being defined by the number of hours spent playing video games and on social media etc.! (I will try to find that reference!) The point is, that with Globalization comes an ever increasing need for educators and schools to be able to adapt to all of the changes. This can be challenging with school systems being very large, and with large systems come slower rates of change.  With that being said, it is still important to for educators to create culturally relevant classrooms! We truly need educators that are aware of the issues and the new emerging concerns of globalization. Also we need educators who are dynamic and willing to adapt to the future changes that we are unable to anticipate at this time.

We are all interconnected and this needs to be highlighted in our classrooms via culturally relevant teaching practices, and the integration of 21st Century Technology Skills, including social media, information technology, digital literacy, and digital citizenship.

Rapid growth of educational tools for tutoring, interactive simulations, assessments, planning, information links and resources, and specialized programming to facilitate learning of those with special needs. As teachers, we need to

Culturally relevant teaching practices, infused with 21st Century Technologies.

Educators need to continue to teach holistically, and development of the whole child, including Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices, but also be aware of globalization and also strive to ground teaching practice within new technological tools. This includes accessing websites from our Ministry that are dedicated to the inclusion of additional appropriate web resources that can be used within our schools and homes. If not, we must then learn to assess additional technological tools for cultural appropriateness among students.

There are many variables at play when it comes to Globalization, and the impacts have far reaching effects for all members of a school community, especially within our schools and classrooms!

Deborah McCallum

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