Heather Singmaster, director at the Center for Global Education at Asia Society, curated this group blog in which education leaders discussed global competence based on best practices from around the world. This blog is no longer being updated.
Federal
Opinion
Post-Election: Teaching Kids How to Respectfully Disagree
How can we raise our children to see various sides of contentious situations as the Founding Fathers and Mothers would have wanted them to, and to effectively, accurately express their views?
Federal
Opinion
An English Teacher Abroad: Coming Home
After a trip abroad with students, it is useful to reflect on what was learned and how to improve for next time. Here, Jessica Keigan, a secondary language arts teacher at Horizon High School in Thornton, CO, does just that with some lessons for all of us.
Federal
Opinion
Bill Gates: Who's Beating the U.S., and What We Do About It
Thus starts Bill Gates’ personal review of Asia Society senior advisor Vivien Stewart’s book, A World-Class Education (ASCD, 2012).
Curriculum
Opinion
Recognize Patterns: Advice for Chinese Language Classrooms
There was a great rush in the last few years to create Chinese language programs in schools. China's rise as an economic powerhouse is undeniable, and parents understand that proficiency in two (or more) languages will give their children an advantage in the future workplace. But as the quantity of Chinese programs rise, it's unclear whether the quality is also on an upward swing. My colleague Chris Livaccari shares his observations and offers some advice.
Federal
Opinion
Inspired School Redesign: The Floating Schools of Bangladesh
This is an incredible school redesign story.
In Bangladesh, 20% of the country goes underwater each year. Severe flooding prevents students from attending school for a good portion of time. In any given year, dozens if not hundreds of schools are destroyed. Even more schools are shut down because kids cannot get to school.
In Bangladesh, 20% of the country goes underwater each year. Severe flooding prevents students from attending school for a good portion of time. In any given year, dozens if not hundreds of schools are destroyed. Even more schools are shut down because kids cannot get to school.
Curriculum
Opinion
Global Competence: An Avenue to the World
So what does it say that educated parents of means pay $40,000 for a new school to receive an education that explicitly states it will provide a global view, second language learning, and study abroad as its core tenant?
Assessment
Opinion
Nine Lessons on How to Teach 21st Century Skills and Knowledge
Decades of empirical research about how individuals learn, however, provide valuable insight into how pedagogy can address the need for 21st century skills.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
What It Means to be Career Ready
How many times a week do you hear the term "college and career ready"? If you're like me, quite a bit. There are many definitions of each. But a now there is an effort to bring clarity to career readiness. My colleague Heather Singmaster reports.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Deeper Learning
The similarities between the skills of global competence and those of deeper learning are quite clear.
School & District Management
Opinion
Global Competence at the Middle Level: A Critical Imperative
Middle school students are at a turning point between childhood and high school. Research shows that these adolescent minds are incredibly curious about the world around them. Judith Conk, senior consultant to Asia Society International Studies Schools Network, explains why it's critically important to make global learning part of an innovative approach to student engagement.
Federal
Opinion
Sharing Perspectives, Opening Minds
I've shared a lot of perspectives on this blog—my own and others'—on global competence. Too rarely, admittedly, does it include student perspectives on what it means to become globally competent. Starting today, I hope to remedy that.
Assessment
Opinion
Will the Next "Education President" Please Stand Up?
Presidential candidates present mixed signals on education.
Federal
Opinion
What Research Tells Us About Immersion, Part 2
Research on language immersion education has heralded benefits such as academic achievement, language and literacy development in two or more languages, and cognitive skills.
Federal
Opinion
What Research Tells Us About Immersion
Research on language immersion education has heralded benefits such as academic achievement, language and literacy development in two or more languages, and cognitive skills.