The Critical Global Educator

An acknowledged challenge for humanitarian democratic education is its perceived lack of philosophical and theoretical foundation, often resulting in peripheral academic status and reduced prestige. A rich philosophical and theoretical tradition does however exist. This book synthesises crucial concepts from Critical Realism, Critical Social Theory, Critical Discourse Studies, neuro-, psycho-, socio- and cognitive-linguistic research, to provide critical global educators with a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework for self- and negotiated evaluation. Empirical research spanning six years, involving over 500 international teachers, teacher educators, NGO and DEC administrators and academics, traces the personal and professional development of the critical global educator. Analyses of surveys, focus groups and interviews reveal factors which determine development, translating personal transformative learning to professional transaction and transformational political efficacy. Eight recommendations call for urgent conceptual deconstruction, expansion and redefinition, mainstreaming Global Citizenship Education as Sustainable Development. In an increasingly heteroglossic world, this book argues for relevance, for Critical Discourse Studies, if educators mediating and modelling diverse emergent disciplines are to honestly and effectively engage a learner’s consciousness. The Critical Global Educator will appeal to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of citizenship, development, global education, sustainability, social justice, human rights and professional development.

An acknowledged challenge for humanitarian democratic education is its perceived lack of philosophical and theoretical foundation, often resulting in peripheral academic status and reduced prestige. A rich philosophical and theoretical tradition does however exist. This book synthesises crucial concepts from Critical Realism, Critical Social Theory, Critical Discourse Studies, neuro-, psycho-, socio- and cognitive-linguistic research, to provide critical global educators with a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework for self- and negotiated evaluation. Empirical research spanning six years, involving over 500 international teachers, teacher educators, NGO and DEC administrators and academics, traces the personal and professional development of the critical global educator. Analyses of surveys, focus groups and interviews reveal factors which determine development, translating personal transformative learning to professional transaction and transformational political efficacy. Eight recommendations call for urgent conceptual deconstruction, expansion and redefinition, mainstreaming Global Citizenship Education as Sustainable Development. In an increasingly heteroglossic world, this book argues for relevance, for Critical Discourse Studies, if educators mediating and modelling diverse emergent disciplines are to honestly and effectively engage a learner’s consciousness. The Critical Global Educator will appeal to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of citizenship, development, global education, sustainability, social justice, human rights and professional development.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1 The Realpolitik of Global Citizenship Education -- 2 Why Global Citizenship? An Intervention in Search of a Theory -- 3 Global Citizenship Education: Competitiveness versus Solidarity? Liminal: Education and Citizenship -- 4 Global Citizenship Education Confronting Hyper- Globalist, Skeptic and Transformationist Agendas -- 5 Global Citizenship Education and the Role of Universities: Seven Iconoclastic Theses about Public Universities and Neoliberal Common Sense -- 6 Global Citizenship and Global Universities: The Age of Global Interdependence and Cosmopolitanism -- 7 Multiculturalism in the World System: Towards a Social Justice Model of Multicultural Education -- 8 Global Citizenship Education and Global Peace Vive la liberté! -- 9 Adult Learning and Global Citizenship Education -- 10 Global Citizenship Education: A New Global Social Movement? -- 11 Implementing Global Citizenship Education: Challenges -- Appendix -- Bibliography -- Index.

This book examines how educators internationally can better understand the role of education as a public good designed to nurture peace, tolerance, sustainable livelihoods and human fulfilment. Bringing together empirical and theoretical perspectives, this insightful text develops new understandings of education for sustainable development and global citizenship (ESD/GC) and illustrates how these might impact on educational research, policy and practice. The text recognizes the ESD/GC as pivotal to the universal ambitions of UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, and focuses on the role of teachers and teacher educators in delivering the appropriate educational response to promote equity and sustainability. Chapters explore factors including curriculum design, values and assessment in teacher education, and consider how each and every learner can be guaranteed an understanding of their role in promoting a just and sustainable global society. This book will be of great interest to academics, researchers, school leaders, practitioners, policy makers and students in the fields of education, teacher education and sustainability.

Global Citizenship Education and Teacher Education brings together scholars and practitioners from all continents to explore the role of teacher education in formulating a practice of citizenship that has a global scope and is guided by critical and emancipatory approaches. By considering educational responses to global challenges —such as global warming, rising levels of inequalities, intensification of armed conflicts, growing streams of international migration, and the impact of neoliberal policies—this book provides valuable analyses for researchers, teacher educators, and educators. The volume examines historical and conceptual issues relating to the incorporation of global citizenship education in teacher education, and presents examples from across the world that showcase main trends in research and practice from across the world. This book is of great interest to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and libraries in the fields of citizenship education, global education, teacher education, international and comparative education, and education policy and politics.

In the first volume in the Critical Global Citizenship Education series, Torres combines theoretical and empirical research to present an original perspective on global citizenship education as a vitally important way of learning in a globalized world. In examining the requirements for effective global citizenship education and education reform, he investigates pathways to citizenship-building at the local, national and global levels and urges development of teaching methods, teacher education, and curriculum within a social justice education framework. Taking into account post-colonial perspectives, political realities at play, and practical implications, Torres provides a succinct but comprehensive understanding of how global citizenship education can expand the concept of civic education in a global society and interrupt inequality. This volume considers the ways that global citizenship education has been incorporated and is used by international institutions, governments, and the academy, and provides a clear framework for anyone struggling to make sense of the tensions and complexities of global citizenship education today.

Our children are at an advantage when they experience other cultures and develop skills in a connected world. They are better prepared to be productive and compassionate citizens in an increasingly global economy, and they are able to improve their communication skills, collaborate effectively and be ready for multicultural workspaces. Empowering educators with the tools to foster this environment in the classroom is a critical part of the process. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has been leading the way in this field. As part of its extensive publishing program, ISTE will be releasing in July 2016 The Global Educator: Leveraging Technology for Collaborative Learning & Teaching by Julie Lindsay. In The Global Educator, Lindsay illustrates the need for intercultural understanding and collaboration to personalize learning, achieve curriculum objectives and bring the world to our students by answering these key questions: How imperative is it that educators connect themselves and their classrooms to the world? What emerging education leadership styles are shifting pedagogy and why should we be taking notice of this? What are the essential benefits of embedding online global collaboration into the curriculum? What are simple steps that educators in the classroom can take to become more globally minded and start to change their practice? How are emerging digital technologies supporting this move to online global learning and collaboration? In addition to answering these questions, the book provides practical resources and powerful case studies from educators and education leaders in the United States and throughout the world who are forging connections across the globe, embedding these practices into current curriculum objectives and providing their students with invaluable educational experiences, including: — more — Yvonne Marie Andres, a California-based global collaboration expert and co-founder of Global SchoolNet, which has been at the forefront of telecommunication-based learning. Librarian and media specialist Toni Olivieri-Barton, based in Colorado, has participated in and led many online global projects across K-12 levels. She was the runner-up for an ISTE Online Learning Network Award for creating opportunities for online independent studies at the middle school and high school levels. And Anne Mirtschin, an award-winning teacher in Australia, finds and designs opportunities for her students and fellow teachers and brings rich learning activities to the classroom. Global collaboration has changed the learning ecology of her school and had a positive impact on her students. For educators and curriculum developers, The Global Educator is an invaluable resource to support and nurture a global learning experience for children and students everywhere.