Showcasing Global Understandings

International Education Week (IEW) is a great opportunity for students and educators to come together and celebrate the advantages of global education and cultural exchange. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has marked this occasion by promoting programs and opportunities that prepare students for a global environment. Additionally, these initiatives encourage both educators and students to develop essential skills such as:

Collaboration
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Cultural Competence Engagement
Effective Communication
Empathy
Global Citizenship
Global Awareness
Global and Cultural Competence
Interdisciplinary Thinking
Leadership

Showcasing Global Education Understandings: Topics and Resources

Before you scroll, it is important to know that this page features several topics and resources that can help educators incorporate global education in the classroom, including:

Global Education and Portrait of a Graduate Alignment
Increasing Students' Global Knowledge and Skills
- Examples of Global-Related Classroom Activities that Engage Students
- Perspectives Discussion, Debate, or Deliberative Dialogue
- Global Inquiry and Resources
Highlights from International Education Week Past Showcases

Global Education and Portrait of a Graduate Alignment

Did you know that global education and competencies align closely with the North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate?

By integrating global perspectives into teaching practices, educators not only enhance student learning but also cultivate the essential skills highlighted in the NC Portrait of a Graduate, including effective communication, collaboration, adaptability, empathy, and global awareness. These interconnected elements are crucial in equipping students for success in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world. This infographic lists the Global Competencies that align with the NC Portrait of Graduate Durable Skills.

Increasing Students' Global Knowledge and Skills

Engaging your students in activities that showcase their global competency allows them to express their interests and understanding of global issues, global learning, and cultural awareness through various projects, presentations, or work samples.

Examples of Global-Related Classroom Activities that Engage Students

World Language and Culture Day: Hold a day dedicated to exploring different world languages and cultures. Students can learn basic phrases in different languages, explore customs, and compare global education systems. This promotes an appreciation for linguistic and cultural diversity.
Global Storytelling Day: Invite international students or community members to share their stories, or have students create presentations about a country’s history, traditions, and current global role. Students can also create and share stories that reflect global themes, promoting empathy and understanding of different cultures.
Virtual Guest Speakers from Around the World- Invite guest speakers, such as international students, teachers, or professionals, to engage with students through virtual presentations. They can share their experiences, highlighting the importance of global collaboration and cross-cultural understanding.
Global Pen Pals Program- Partner with schools in other countries for a pen pals exchange, where students can write letters or exchange emails. This initiative will encourage students to practice their writing skills while also fostering international friendships and learning about other cultures firsthand.
Global Citizenship Projects- Encourage students to participate in projects that promote global citizenship, such as fundraisers for international causes, collaborating with global nonprofits, or working on sustainability initiatives. These efforts could be tied to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, helping students learn about global challenges and solutions.
International Arts and Crafts Fair- Host an arts and crafts fair where students create artwork or crafts inspired by different world cultures. These projects could include traditional clothing, folk art, or flags, which can be displayed in a school-wide exhibition, celebrating global creativity.
Cultural Exchange Presentations- Students can research different countries' cultures, including their languages, traditions, and education systems. Each class could create and share multimedia presentations (videos, slideshows, etc.) on the selected countries, allowing students to learn about global diversity and build cultural awareness.

Global Perspectives Discussion, Debate, or Deliberative Dialogue

Debate: The goals are to advocate for a specific course of action and win and to influence others to sway to a specific point of view.

Discussion is an exchange of ideas. It is similar to a debate because differences of ideas are shared or expressed, but discussions are more informal since the talking doesn’t necessarily result in a desired outcome like “winning or losing”.

Deliberative Dialogue is a communication process about coming up with solutions and reaching a deeper understanding of an issue or problem. It requires that the participants not judge or argue to get their point across, but take the time to truly listen to others to understand or find meaning in what they are saying.

Engaging students in debates, discussions, and deliberative dialogues allows them to utilize their reading, writing, speaking, research, media literacy, and listening skills. These protocols help students better understand topics, issues, and challenges from both current and historical global perspectives. To get started, students can reflect on an international topic or challenge and prepare by researching global matters such as:
- Human Rights
- Food and Water: Costs, Access, and Sustainability
- Costs and Access to Education
- Addressing Poverty
- Globalization and Culture
- Culture, Traditions, and Belief Systems
- Global Communities
- How People Contribute to the Development of Their Community
- Employment
- Trade and the Global Economy
- Access to Health
- Security during times of Peace and Conflict
- International Migration
- How Different Nations Approach Solutions to Global Crises

Learn more about how to engage students in Debate, Discussion, and Deliberative Dialogue by accessing this infographic:

Global Inquiry

Global Inquiry: Global Inquiry, also known as inquiry-based learning, is an educational approach that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and global awareness in students. It encourages students to ask questions, make observations, and seek answers through research and analysis. This student-centered approach is facilitated by teachers who guide and support students in exploring real-life problems and global issues.

Global Inquiry boosts student engagement and deepens their understanding of global topics. It promotes global competence and perspective, encouraging students to think critically about important global challenges. This approach aims to inspire students to take action and positively impact the world.

Decorative Image- Inquiry: ask questions, make discoveries, be curious!

Examples of Inquiry-Based Instructional Strategies that can be used to foster global and cultural topics and understandings:

Visible Thinking Routines:

See, Think, Wonder
Quadrant
Think, Puzzle, Explore
3-2-1 Bridge
Parts, Perspectives, and Me
Perspective Taking
3 Whys

Question Formulation Technique (QFT)
Inquiry Journal
Mind Maps
Inquiry Design Model (IDM)

Additional Information

Research and Resources Related to Global Inquiry
1. Resource: NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Examples of Inquiry Compelling Questions
2. Resource: K-12 Social Studies Standards with Inquiry Indicators for each grade level
3. Resource: K-12 Social Studies Unpacking the Standards
4. Resource: C3 Framework Global Inquiries
5. Background and Details

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Highlights from International Education Week Past Showcases

The North Carolina International Education Week (IEW) Showcase provides students an opportunity to share their interests and understanding of global issues and cultural awareness through various projects, presentations, or work samples. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) wants to acknowledge all the ways our students and educators are studying global education in the digital age. View the showcases below:

2023-2024 Submissions

I. Harold E. Winkler Middle School

Dia De Los Muertos

Teacher: Karina Molina Reyes

As a Dual-Langauge Immersion class, students learned about Dia de Los Muertos and the significance of each part of an altar. Students created an altar to honor family members who have died.

II. Doris Henderson Newcomers School

What is Culture and Why is it Important?

Teacher: Victoria Vaughan

The Newcomers School in Guildford County welcomes first year refugees and immigrants, providing a smooth cultural and linguistic transition to the USA. There are about seven countries and over nine languages represented in this video! This fifth-grade class wrote and performed a drama, created the set, and brought in props from home to represent their countries. In the skit, two siblings walk through an open-air market to discover what culture is and why culture is important. Enjoy!

III. Pinewood Elementary School

Dandiya- Indian Stick Dance

Teacher: Allison Stroupe

Class: Third Grade Music Class

In our school, we try to incorporate Global Awareness all year long with different types of activities. This month in music, we learned about the Diwali celebration in India. Not only did we learn about the geography, culture, foods, and instruments of India, we also learned the Dandjia. This dance is often performed during Diwiali. It is an Indian stick dance consisting of two consecutive circles, rotating in opposite directions, performing stick patterns alone and with partners. This is just one of the many things our children will learn to promote Global Awareness this academic year.

IV. Harold E. Winkler Middle School

Expressing the World Using Scientific Notation

Teachers: Eren Hendricks & Lynnette Antwi, Math

This project is a scientific notation project for 7th grade Math students. Students researched a country to find at least 5 facts that they could convert, using scientific notation. They made a Google Slides presentation of their country's facts and other interesting things they learned about their country.

We take great pride in showcasing the inspiring submissions from both students and educators at the following schools, who utilized Flip Grid (now inactive) to share their creative ideas and insights. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for their contributions and dedication to fostering a vibrant learning community. to recognize their contributions:

Cultural Dance from ArtSpace Charter School (@ArtSpaceCharter)

Words of Wisdom from Dr. Javier H Arizmendi Penaloza from Winston-Salem/Forysth County Schools

Presentations from River Bend Middle School (@River_Bend_MS)

Global INFORMANCE from New Hope Elementary School (@NHVoyagers)

Rosas Dance Performance by the Northern Guilford High School Dance Team (@nghsiDance)

How to Showcase Students' or Educators' Global Understandings International Education Week

It's not too late to share students' or educators' global awareness, responsiveness, and competency!

Submissions will be accepted throughout each school year!

How to Submit

Throughout the school year, approved submissions will be featured on the NCDPI social media pages, website, reels, and in newsletter bulletins. Selected student and educator submissions may also be invited to showcase their work at an NCDPI International Education Week (IEW) event. If you would like to submit an entry for a student or educator showcase, please email, Phylisha.Sanders@dpi.nc.gov.

Additional Student and Educator Showcase Submission Guidelines:

All submissions will be reviewed by NCDPI staff to ensure that no publicly identifiable information is submitted.
By uploading any video or copies of student work, you agree that you have obtained permission to share the likeness and work of your student(s) and have obtained any necessary permissions/licenses.
Educators are responsible for ensuring that all submissions have appropriate media release forms to be shared publicly and only first names are used/visible in all submissions.
Submissions will be individually and collectively highlighted via social media during International Education Week (IEW) - please follow the @NCGlobalEd Twitter account, the NCDPI Facebook page, and use the hashtags #NCIEW, #NCisGlobal, and #SettingtheStandard

During International Education Week and throughout the year, be sure to use the hashtags:
#NCIEW, #NCisGlobal, and #SettingtheStandard

QUICK LINKS

Access the International Education Week Information Hub content by clicking on the respective content buttons below.

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