Thinking and Enquiry Skills in Global Education

1142 Words3 Pages

To examine and explore what is global citizenship? This essay will look at the importance of becoming a global citizenship, the role we, as educators play in this development and how the curriculum frameworks and associated learning emphases for global education assist in the development of a global citizen.

What is global education? “Global citizenship would seem a recent concept, but its origin can be traced back to at least 4th century Greece when Diogenes declared himself a cosmopolitan – a citizen of the world” (Hower, 2010, p.1). The idea of global citizenship, then, emerged even before there was a clear understanding of just what the globe entailed or who populated it, Hower, 2010, although different people and cultures were unknown to anyone. Oxfam (1997) believes that global citizenship goes beyond knowing that as citizens of the world there is a need to acknowledge our responsibilities towards each other and the earth. It is about the need to solve inequality and to work actively in achieving these needs. It can be just a matter of looking after the earth for our future generations and to have a belief that as individuals or as a nation can make a difference. “Twenty-first century Australians are members of a global community, connected to the whole world by ties of culture, economics and politics, enhanced communication and travel and a shared environment” (Curriculum Corporation, 2008, p.2).

The importance of becoming a global citizen is paramount for us as humans as there is a need to develop a sense of identity and self esteem Oxfam 1997. In addition being a global citizen gives us an awareness of what it means to be a member of a community and how this can influence responses to global issues. Hower (2010) p...

... middle of paper ...

...ademics/.../Making_of_a_Global_Citizen.pdf

Curriculum Corporation, (2008). Global Perspectives: A framework for global

education in Australian schools. Carlton South, Vic.

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2009). Education for

Global and Multicultural Citizenship. A strategy for Victorian

Government Schools, 2009-2013. Retrieved December 26th, 2010

from: www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/.../multicultural-ed-strategy.pdf

Opotow, S., Gerson, J., & Woodside, S. (2005). From Moral Exclusion to Moral

Inclusion: Theory for Teaching Peace. Retrieved December 31st, from:

http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.utas.edu.au/pqdweb?RQT=318&pmid=27912

Victorian Essential Learning Standards, (2005). Civics and Citizenship – Level 1.

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Retrieved January 1st, from:

http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/

Open Document