Out of the Bubble and Into the World…

About ten years ago, Thomas Freedman hit the literary world with his award winning title, A Flat World. He put into words, justified by data, what everyone was experiencing—we are now globally-interdependent, connected, and the world has shrunk.

Despite this fact, many American students have never left their city, state, or county while others are here from other countries and can’t speak our language. I have met numerous rurally impoverished students who have never set foot on a public transit bus, and I’ve heard an inner-city kid remark, “Wow. Apples really do grow on trees.”

Our world is now small with big problems. With a flat world and new standards, we should be inspired to take our research global. We can do this by purposefully embracing international research mini-inquiry projects, which place some virtual traveling shoes on our students. Let them be roving reporters, global defense fund members, and more. Here are some International Ideas:

• Have your students look up what the DAVOS convention named as the world’s most pressing issues. Essential Question (EQ) or Umbrella Question: Pick a world problem and brainstorm recommendations for our country to prepare or help.
• World Health Organization connections: EQ: If you were a member of the WHO, what recommendations would you have for impoverished nations?
• The United Nations ranks countries in order of their “poverty rate.” EQ: [Can you] Create a non-profit agency to tackle one problem in an impoverished nation?
• Read a book with an international setting. Research the real setting and place the author on trial. How well did they depict the area?
• For those grade levels studying the Bill of Rights, partner with the social studies teacher and ask every student to research a country of their choice. EQ: How would our Bill of Rights fit in this culture or government?
• Create and publish an Idiom Guide for immigrants and English Language Learners in your community.
• If you were to move to [country or biome], how would you build your house? This is full of science connections with R-value research, daily temperatures, seasonal needs, etc.
• Math and Exchange rates. Ask a math colleague who teaches ratios to have students come into the library and research exchange rates, purchasing power, and more. Students could create a monetary exchange rate guide. EQ: How much money in local currency will you need to visit [country] for a week?
• Skype with a classroom in a contrasting demographic and recommend fiction titles set in each other’s domain. Read those titles and discuss life differences and educational differences.
• Research international relief organizations and why they were created. Choose one for a school-wide “Make a Difference Day” endeavor. Organizations such as Heifer International have formal programs set up for school fundraisers. EQ: How can we locally assist others less fortunate?
• Investigate “mortality rates” in differing countries and dig deeply to find “heroes” who are helping. People such as former President Jimmy Carter could be used as a supreme example. EQ: Who’s out there helping those in great need?

Going-global research endeavors should exceed simple “travel brochures.” Travel brochures are a “first-world problem” and new standards say students should be examining “real world issues.” So let’s embrace a new, real-world issue and compel students to civic action. Let’s try to challenge our students to make the world a better place…whenever we can.

In this Going Global issue we’ve included an international spotlight and a peek into what’s going on educationally around the globe. Closer to home, here at School Library Connection, I’ll be passing the baton to Leslie Preddy as the new Instructional Leadership Editor. Over the last few months, Leslie and I have been working together to bring you interesting ideas for high-quality programs. Leslie is a wonderful addition to the SLC team and she brings a treasure trove of valuable experience. As a past-president of AASL, author, and experienced librarian, Leslie will undoubtedly continue the SLC tradition of keeping ahead of the curve.

Over the last two years it has been my pleasure to hunt down authors who have cutting-edge ideas to share with our readers. What a privilege it has been to “visit with you” each month, penning thoughts and encouragement for program improvement. I’ll still be involved with SLC via blogging, webinars, and the Advisory Board, but it is with great pleasure that we announce Leslie Preddy is your new Instructional Leadership Editor.