The world is much smaller than it used to be. In this age of information technology, even exotic places thousands of miles away are only a few hours or a click away. They can, and do, affect the way we live.
The world’s geopolitics has also been restructured with the breakup of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. And since September 11, 2001, the way we see the world has forever changed. The next generation’s future rests heavily on its recognizing and being prepared for these challenges as well as the opportunities in a restructured, more interconnected world.
For school and college administrators, the facts of globalism bring two major challenges. First, young people from all over the world — Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East — are now sitting in our classrooms. Dozens of languages are represented in most school districts and colleges. Helping these newcomers adjust to an American culture that is new to them and teaching them what they need to know to be responsible, productive citizens is a great challenge for educators. Second, all students need to understand their smaller world and acquire the skills and attitudes that will enable them to live and work effectively within it. That is where World View comes in.
World View, established in 1998 by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, helps K-12 schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges prepare student to succeed in an interconnected, diverse, and multicultural world.
World View accomplishes this mission by helping educators:
- Develop a greater understanding of world regions, cultures, and global issues through professional learning opportunities and international travel
- Integrate a global perspective into every subject area of the curriculum and at every grade level
- Respond to rapid cultural and demographic changes in our classrooms and communities
