Worldwise Learning

Evidence that we live in an increasingly complex and interconnected world exists just inside our kitchens. Cabinets are filled with maple syrup from Canada, jalapenos from Mexico, and pasta from Italy. California tomatoes, Thai mangos, and New Zealand apples sit perched in a bowl on the countertop. In addition to this geographic diversity, a unique and intricate story exists for each food, conveying the numerous systems involved in its production. Due to this interconnectedness, the most challenging issues local and global communities face today have no single cause and no simple solution. Think about mass migration, climate change, and global pandemics. They are, in a word, complex. Understanding them deeply requires both a shift in thinking and a shift in behavior. It no longer works to say that, A causes B" when we live in a networked world where social, economic and environmental factors intermingle So what does this have to do with education? Our students inherit current-day global challenges and need to be prepared for an uncertain future characterized by social, political, economic and environmental instability. They'll need to recognize how issues don't fit neatly within the artificial boundaries societies have made, such as city, state or national borders. They'll need to understand that systems only improve when solutions address root causes, not just symptoms. They'll need to view themselves as capable and competent in affecting positive, long-lasting change. And, as teachers, our job is to consider how we can help students to develop the thinking skills to understand global issues while forming the competencies to identify and enact solutions that bring about positive change"--