What is a Global Approach?

'Education is not a preparation for life, it is life itself.' John Dewey

The Global Approach is also known as Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development (EGCSD). It advocates giving children and young people the opportunity to develop critical thinking about complex global issues in the safe space of the classroom. This is something that children of all ages need, for even very young children come face to face with the controversial issues of our time through the media and modern communications technology.

The Global Approach deals with issues of global interdependence, diversity of identities and cultures, sustainable development, peace & conflict and inequities of power, resources & respect.

These issues are addressed through a wide and evolving variety of participatory teaching and learning methodologies, including structured discussion and debate, role-play, ranking exercises, and communities of enquiry. Such active methods are now established as good practice in education, and are not unique to Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development. The rationale for Curriculum for Excellence, for example, has at its core the notion of improved student participation in order to develop the four capacities: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. The Methodologies section of this website will, in future, offer opportunities to learn more about these methods and to engage with other practitioners in their development within Initial Teacher Education.

It is crucial to be aware that, far from promoting one set of answers or values or attitudes, the Global Approach encourages children and young people to explore, develop and express their own values and opinions. (Always requiring too that they listen to and respect other people's points of view.) This is an important step towards children and young people making informed choices as to how they exercise their own rights and their responsibilities to others.

It is also vital that teachers at all levels do not approach the Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development with the feeling that they must have all the answers – impossible anyway in such a fast changing world. The role of the teacher is to enable pupils to find out about their world for themselves and to support them as they learn to assess evidence, negotiate and work with others, solve problems and make informed decisions.

The Global Approach is not set in stone. The aim of the Global Approach Network is to engage ITE practitioners with this stimulating, lively, sometimes controversial area to ensure that Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development are no longer seen as issues to be dealt with in one-off sessions or day workshops. The Global Approach can pervade all subjects offering teachers and pupils a real sense of engagement with the world beyond the classroom. Research is beginning to demonstrate the very real benefits that this can offer.

Resources
The highly praised Oxfam guide ‘Getting Started with Global Citizenship: A Guide for New Teachers’ is a 20 page A4 booklet offering an excellent practical introduction to the Global Approach, including suggested links across all subject areas. (Download pdf here or email iteproject@ideas-forum.org.uk for paper copies)

The IDEAS ‘Core Resources for Student Teachers in Scotland’ Booklet outlines a set of Global Approach teaching resources that offer an immediate insight into the methodologies of the Global Approach. All these resources are available in your University Library. Go to Core Resources on this website for a pdf of the leaflet and details of the resources included.