Web Links

Globalization

For some further insights into issues of globalization, see the following:

" Globalization and Human Rights" http://www.pbs.org/globalization/

Thomas Friedman and The Lexus and the Olive Tree

For a brief biography and commentary on The Lexus and the Olive Tree, see the following:

Biography http://www.nytimes.com/library/opinion/friedman/bio_friedman.html

Commentary, audio clips, excerpts http://www.lexusandtheolivetree.com/index.htm

The National Council for the Social Studies

The NCSS is the major professional society for social studies teachers. While the entire web site is worth exploring, the following portion provides the full text of the NCSS position statement on K-12 global education, developed by the International Activities Committee of NCSS: http://databank.ncss.org/article.php?story=20020402120154452

The Importance of Systems Thinking

For a good brief summary of the importance of thinking about the interrelatedness of people, events, and the planet, see the following on systems thinking:

"Global Learning and Systems Thinking" http://www.globallearningnj.org/glean05.htm

"What is a System?" http://www.globallearningnj.org/glean06.htm

"Why Systems Thinking is a Critical Skill" http://www.globallearningnj.org/glean07.htm

Linking Students Around the World

The Global Schoolhouse: "Linking Kids Around the World" is the motto displayed on this website. The resources and information on the site enable teachers, parents, and students to connect with classroom teachers and students around the world, join existing global education projects (such as International Schools CyberFair), or develop their own global education projects. http://www.gsn.org/

UNICEF: Voices of Youth http://www.unicef.org/voy/Live from the World Youth Forum, THE MEETING PLACE is where you can share ideas about important world issues, and where you'll find activities to do and problems to solve. Teachers (and others) can also discuss global education and online learning.

Kidlink:www.kidlink.org/ Kidlink is a non-profit grassroots organization aimed at getting youth through the age of 15 involved in global dialog via public mailing lists, a private network for real-time interactions such as chats, and an on-line art exhibition site. Kidlink is supported by volunteers, mainly teachers and parents; over 100,000 children in 117 countries have participated in Kidlink since it began operation in 1991. This website extensively describes the history and structure of Kidlink and how to join.

The Pacific Circle Consortium

The following web site is the home of the Pacific Circle Consortium http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/pcc/

Studying the Global Environment

The GLOBE Program: http://globe.fsl.noaa.gov/ Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. Students and teachers from over 7,000 schools in more than 80 countries are working with research scientists to learn more about our planet. GLOBE students make environmental observations at or near their schools and report their data through the Internet. Scientists use GLOBE data in their research and provide feedback to the students to enrich their science education. Visit this site to take advantage of a broad range of information resources, from GLOBE data to news bulletins, or learn how you can participate as a student, an educator, or a scientist.

Teaching the Global Perspective

The following web sites will be useful in getting an idea of the resources available to teachers who are "thinking globally, acting locally:"

United Nations Cyber Schoolbus – This is the United Nations global teaching and learning site devoted to peace education. Curriculum, activities, and resources on the United Nations (UN), numerous nations, and international events and days of commemoration are available. Also featured is information on the Model UN, a simulation of the UN system, and the UN Publications' Educational Bookstore. www.cyberschoolbus.un.org

The Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation Projecthttp://www.cwis.org This project provides access to documentation on the social, political, strategic, economic and human rights situations being faced by Fourth World nations indigenous peoples.

American Forum for Global Educationwww.globaled.org/ The website of this non-profit organization provides information about the AFGE listserv for discussion of ideas and practices in global education, materials and programs for both the classroom and professional development, study tours and other projects, and a publications catalog.

Foreign Policy Association (FPA) www.fpa.org/ This non-profit, non-governmental, non-partisan educational organization aims to educate Americans about significant world issues that affect their lives. The "Great Decisions" program, which focuses on secondary, college, and adult education about key foreign policy issues, is the core of the FPA's education efforts. The website includes extensive information on FPA's various programs, an opportunity to join the FPA on-line discussion group, and an on-line bookstore of FPA publications.

SPICEhttp://spice.stanford.edu An outreach program of the Institute for International Studies (IIS) at Stanford University, SPICE provides up-to-date curriculum materials on international topics for grades 6-14. The SPICE website consists of an on-line version of the SPICE publications catalog, which includes curricular materials on contemporary world issues, world cultures, world geography, and world history. The site also features the full-text of several free, introductory lesson plans, and the annual newsletter "SPICE Connections."