EDUCATION 574 (3 Semester Hours)
GLOBAL EDUCATION ISSUES
Course Description:
This course will provide a critical examination of global events and issues
using the lens of the theory of global citizenship. This course has been designed
for education students preparing for or returning from a study abroad experience.
Specifically, we will focus on:
 The implications of the processes of globalization for education.
 The main concepts and ideas of the field of global education.
 Critiques of global education.
 The different, emerging global ideologies that shape education today.
International experiences will be used when possible in order to illustrate how
these issues are dealt with in diverse contexts.
Text:
1. Wilinsky, J. (2000). Learning to divide the world: Education at empire’s
end. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minn. Press.
2. Spring, J. (2004). How educational ideologies are shaping global society:
Intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, and the decline of the nationstate. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
3. Friedman, T. (2005). The World is Flat. Taraur, Straus & Giroux.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course, you should be able to:
1. Present a clear understanding of global issues facing an educator
today and looking towards the future. (North Carolina Professional
Teaching Standard I)
2. Identify and research contemporary issues in global education.
(North Carolina Professional Teaching Standard II)
3. Apply your knowledge in a school or classroom environment. (North
Carolina Professional Teaching Standard III)
The primary mission of the Donald R. Watson School of Education at
the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is to develop highly
competent professionals to serve in teaching and other educational
leadership roles in southeastern North Carolina, the state, and nation. The
Watson School is committed to achieving excellence in teacher and
administrator preparation in all of its programs.
Course Assignments
1. Critical reader responses: Submit 2-3 page written responses to the class
readings 5 times during the semester. The responses are due at the start of
class on the same day that the readings are due.
2. Curriculum analysis: Group presentation of analysis of a curriculum unit
relevant to global education (NGO, state, or national curriculum; global,
human rights, environmental, peace, or humane educations). More details to
be distributed during the semester.
3. Final paper: Research case study paper on a program of global education
(10-15 pages). More details to be distributed during the semester.
4. Graduate students will be required to complete a 6 page research paper on a
discipline specific approach predominantly used in their assigned country.
Examples of discipline specific approaches include inquiry science or the
whole language approach to reading.
Note: Beginning with the fall 2005 semester, the Watson School of
Education requires that all education majors enrolled in methods courses
maintain an active account on TaskStream, a web-based curriculum
builder and portfolio toolset. You are asked to maintain that account for
the duration of your program with the Watson School of Education
(www.taskstream.com). Students in these courses will use TaskStream to
maintain a Professional Development Portfolio. This portfolio includes
evidence of your work to demonstrate progress toward meeting exit
requirements and professional standards.
Attendance:
Your promptness and active participation is expected at every class. Each
anticipated absence must be discussed with the instructor in advance.
Each unanticipated absence must be discussed with the instructor
immediately upon return to class.
If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing
accommodations of any type in order to participate in this class,
you must notify Disability Services (Westside Hall, 962-7555),
provide the necessary documentation of the disability and
arrange for the appropriate authorized accommodations. Once
these accommodations are approved, please identify yourself to
me in order that we can implement these accommodations.
Grading
Grades in this course range from A to F as shown in the UNCW catalog.
25%: Reader responses
25%: Presentation
40%: Final paper
10% /Discipline specific paper
Modeled after John Meyers ADMPS-2106