The International Dimension
Because of the rigorous nature
of the academic components of the IB Middle Years Program, it is often easy to
forget about the "international" component of the International
Baccalaureate. However, the idea of international understanding and global
thinking should inform every course in the IB MYP. After all, the mission
statement calls for the creation of "a better and more peaceful
world." The IB enjoys a reputation as a leader and innovator in the field
of international education. To that end, the most recent IB strategic plan
(which you can read more about here) calls for continued efforts to improve and
strengthen the IB's leadership in global education. This emphasis on
international education does not stop on the global level, however. It is also
a crucial element of the IB classroom. Students should always be encouraged to
view texts, ideas, and discussions from a perspective which extends beyond
local and national borders. The ways in which all nationalities and cultures
influence and benefit from other global communities should be a part of the
continuing conversation in each and every IB classroom.
Questions for Reflection:
1.
What are the ways
in which the texts, topics, or ideas in your classroom have benefited from
contributions from other communities, cultures, and nationalities?
2.
How does your
particular course address the issue of the international dimension of an
education within the IB MYP? Is it explicitly addressed or how can it be
"woven" into the content?
3.
How can you help
your students understand the importance of international understanding as it
relates to your course?
4.
Internationalism
can also be reflected as incorporating multiple perspectives. What are some
ways you can provide students with multiple perspectives in your classroom?
1. Multiculturalism is part of the very fabric of U.S. History and is one of the reasons I love teaching this subject. Either by choice or against their will, groups from all over the world have migrated to the U.S. over the course of its history and have contributed to the growth and success of our nation. Over time, diverse groups of people have struggled to expand equality across racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries, often in the face of great resistance. Understanding and appreciating the wide variety of cultures contained within our own borders is key to making meaning of the American past and to the direction our future will take.
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3. Studying and understanding history gives us the background and context for the world as it is today. Analyzing the successes and failures of how nations have interacted in the past can help students see how truly important it is to develop understanding and respect across national borders. We truly have to be able to learn from the past in order to succeed at creating a better and more peaceful world.
4. I incorporate multiple perspectives into my classroom by having students read and analyze primary sources written from different perspectives. We also examine different historians’ interpretations of historical events, and we discuss the role of bias and perspective in the telling of history. We discuss the importance of examining history from all viewpoints, as this gives us a nuanced understanding of events.
-- Carrie Roberts
When I taught English and reading, we benefited from reading a number of diverse texts written by authors coming from all walks of life. In some regard, weaving an international dimension into my math class may not be all that difficult because math is indeed the universal language. I do hope that I can afford my students the opportunity to study the biographies of mathematicians from across the globe and across time. I hope to do my part in shifting the western and Euro-centric bias by showing how great feats in math have occurred across the world. It is through this that I think I will be able to provide for a students a lens that is not their own.
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