BY CHRISTINA ROSE
Preparing students for success in the 21st century is as complicated as it is challenging. Education today is tasked with being responsive to the rapid changes in society, not to mention the economy and business landscapes. Ask anyone their opinion about the most important skills students should possess and you”™re likely to get a wide range of answers. From STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) to music and arts instruction, social studies to language arts and foreign languages, it”™s a crowded field of subjects.
In truth, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, so too must learning. The question isn”™t what ”“ they”™re ALL essential ”“ but how to teach these seemingly disparate skills. Global competence education, defined by the Asia Society as “the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance,” tackles the why in every aspect of learning. It”™s a thread that weaves together the various instructional content areas and puts them into context. The result is a well-rounded, culturally-literate student who then becomes an educated, globally competent employee and citizen.
Take, for example, a recent study published in the Washington Post titled, “The Less Americans Know About Ukraine”™s Location, the More They Want U.S. to Intervene.” Three political scientists from Dartmouth, Harvard and Princeton found that only one out of six respondents could find Ukraine on a map and that this lack of knowledge impacted their preferences. Though stark, the survey indicated a positive trend: 27 percent of 18- to 24- year-olds correctly identified Ukraine, versus just 14 percent of those 65 and older.
In another survey, conducted by World Savvy (2012), 80 percent of 18-24 year olds believe jobs are becoming more global in nature, and 60 percent say they would be better employees if they had a stronger understanding of different world cultures. Yet, only 12 percent believe they received instruction that helped them understand the global issues that affect their lives today.
American students recognize the value of global perspectives and competency. It”™s a vital skill set that businesses will increasingly need in the years ahead. When you consider that the American workforce, itself, is becoming more and more multicultural, it”™s evident that a culturally responsive approach to learning is the way of the future.
The mission of our organization, Creative Connection, is to educate young people by encouraging their awareness, understanding and appreciation of other cultures, as well as their own. For more information about how we accomplish our goals and to learn more, please visit CreativeConnections.org or email us at worldlink@creativeconnections.org
Christina Rose is the executive director of Creative Connections and a member of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
