Organizations and charities.

     Since GL is a matter of global concern, organizations and charities around the world have been created to support and encourage this idea through programs that help educate people on global issues like:

• Debt
• Energy
• Food
• Health
• Refugees
• Trade
• Waste
• Water
• Women's rights

     These organizations and charities, besides educating people on the matter, they accept donations and enlist volunteers, to bring aid to the countries where these issues are happening. 

Some of them are: 

• Think Global
• Global Learning
• Global Footprints

     We invite you to visit these pages and read some of the information because, as mentioned before, this is an important topic, and because we are Education students we should be involved with these issues, trying to find a good way to help fight them in some way. 

The more you know the more you can help!

John Lennon - Imagine.

We upload this video because we think that the lyrics are strongly related to this subject. Especially this part of the song: "A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world. You may say I'm a dreamer,  but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you join us, and the world will live as one."

We hope you like it, here are the lyrics:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm no't the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm no't the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

- John Lennon. 

Global Learning Collaborative

Global learning. What are universities doing about it.

     In this fast changing world filled with so many people and cultures, it is very difficult to know about all the issues that affect every single one of them; we have the news, but it does not seem enough for some people, just by watching them you cannot change the reality of things, that is when global learning explores the connections between people and places around the world. It helps us observe and understand the differences and similarities that exist around the globe, it also helps us to know about the issues that concern other countries around us, and gives us the possibilities to help them solve the mentioned issues. Global learning helps develop critical thinking, self awareness, open mindedness, optimism and action for a better world, it also helps people value diversity and appreciate the similarities between people everywhere. This topic should not be confused with online learning, or distance learning, both very different concepts. Though GL uses electronic devices, online software and Internet to connect with other people, it is not the same as an online educational course. 

     Now that we have the concept of global learning clear in our heads, we can move onto the heart of this essay: how are universities acting about the challenge of global learning? Right now, many colleges and universities around the globe are making efforts to give their undergraduates the opportunity to experience global learning programs, which give them the tools they need to later get sent to another country and study or explore the culture that is established in there. Also, besides these programs, colleges and universities are working on developing a curriculum that will prepare the students for issues of the real world, complex global problems and help them develop a sense of "global citizenship" which might help them in the field of GL later on. 

     Some of the strategies that these universities are using to endorse a better global learning experience are travelling,  studying abroad and living abroad. Many of them offer programs that send students to other parts of the world but continuing with their education, so that they can get a full exposure and understanding of the culture and the issues in there. Also, other universities offer cultural exchanges through electronic devices such as computers, cell phones and nowadays tablets, helping students to get in contact with other people without undergoing through the whole journey experience. 

     Now that we see how global learning can be done, English learning and teaching must be mentioned. We know that GL is not the same as online learning, but we can relate both subjects (teaching/learning English) and GL in a way that, in order for the teacher to perform a good teaching work, he/she must be in contact with the student and know a little about their background, and in order for a student to know more and learn better about a language, he/she must know a little about the culture of the country he/she is learning the language from. 

     It also has to be said that not only through global learning we will just know about a culture; it is a part of it, yes, but the real meaning and purpose of GL is to make a change in the world through social justice, conflict resolution, human rights, understanding diversity and becoming "global citizens". Knowing that we are surrounded by other cultures who have their own issues and problems, and finding ways to do something about it, we must also know that is very difficult to get an idea of those issues in just one place, while it is very difficult for some to travel, it must be done if you want to be part of this world changing concept, for it cannot make a change from just one place. 

     I believe that global learning is a beautiful concept created to join the world together, and get rid of all the cultural barriers we have, working together as one, for a world filled with peace, justice and understanding. so it is not very hard if we all really believe in it and we all work hard for it; it should be made step by step, first working in our own countries and then expanding that concept of "global citizens" all over the world. 

Zenaida Souquett

Global Learning Resources.

   

  The Internet has profoundly impacted the whole world and apart from telecommunication, the most palpable impact has been on education. Technology has given us a real potential to improve our education, giving us a lot of useful resources for schools, colleges, universities, etc. This could be possible by using video-conferencing, chat rooms, picture messaging, blogging and more to connect with others around the world. 

     The way schools are using technology is evolving all the time. Helping this to educate in many levels the students. It is really important for children in isolated schools to look outwards and connect with the world. Maybe taking the children on a visit is great but there are always logistic problems. Now, there are other ways of meeting, such as video conferencing through Skype. 

     Global learners attempt to learn in large jumps, absorbing material almost randomly without seeing connections, and then suddenly "getting it". Also, they may be able to solve complex problems quickly, or put things together in new ways once they have grasped the big picture, but they may have difficulty explaining how they did it. 

     Finally, we found Internet as a good resource for education to encourage students to use this as a way for them to increase their knowledge. One way I can motivate children as an English teacher is to make them use the computer and Internet, promoting video conferences in the classrooms, watching videos about topics that are going to be developed in class and encourage them to participate and so they will obtain the wealth of experience. 

     These resources will allow the creation of a new global and virtual community, sharing and using knowledge as it is created. 

Oswaldo Mattey

Global Learning: The power of knowledge.

     Global learning is one of the top ways in which technology is improving education nowadays. Since cyberspace was invented, humans have found a new reality that connects us to the whole world as a unit. Sometimes global learning is confused with online learning, e-learning or distance learning, but it is so much more than that. Through global learning, we can realize the similarities and differences that exist in our world and relate them to our own lives in order to get some ideas, and be aware of the possibilities that we have to improve our world. In addition, as future teachers, we are going to be in touch with so many lives, and we will be able to affect their way of thinking, so we should definitely think about how global learning could help us to provide a better knowledge for our future students. 

    

     So what is global learning? As I said before a lot of people get confused with this concept. Global learning is concerned with exploring the interconnections between people and places around the world. By observing the similarities that we have with others cultures; we can critically examine values and attitudes, appreciate the similarities, learn to value diversity, understand the global context of people and develop skills that will enable us to combat injustice, prejudice and discrimination that encourages us to imagine different futures, and the role we can play in creating a fair and sustainable world by preparing ourselves to collaborate in global issues. 

     Global learning is winning fields and acceptance in schools, colleges and universities these days. As a student, I can, particularly, say that global learning is expanding my awareness about issues like bullying, racism, sexism, environmental problems, violence and others, allowing me to make my own judgements and looking for some sort of solutions as minimal as they may seem to improve my little word, and to make a difference in some other lives by being more understanding to people issues or problems. 

     After finding out that global learning can be used as a technical tool that promotes high quality education, I think that in our branch as future teachers, it is really useful to work with it, in order to look for a global education for our students. So, to make this possible, we have to realize that our motivation is the key that will play an important part in students success in using this kind of resources. As proffesors, we are able to shape the interests of our students and let them understand they need a better preparation for a life in which they need to communicate and collaborate with other people from a variety of other backgrounds. 

     Sometimes it is okay to teach or think in the box and some other times we need to do it outside the box. So, are you ready to take this challenge and be able to use global learning to improve your education? Global learning is there for us to use it. It is not imperative that you take advantages of this because, as it has been shown people can and do learn in classrooms and in their daily basic, but if you want to expand your knowledge through global learning, you will reach the benefits later. I invite you to think in a global perspective. The significant experience will open your mind to be an active and informed person about our globalized world and how you can help or make the difference. Remember knowledge is power, so take advantage of it. 

Kitzys Betancourt.