The Global Class

Current Class: Media in the Global World, Part 1

Click here for lesson plan Click here for class notes

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The next GC will be announced here soon

Humanity's Classroom

"Thank you for doing this Global Class! It is something that should have been brought to education a long time ago. Acknowledgement and a collective mind is what sparks change. What’s that saying? ‘Persistent collective learning?’” Bailey Corneal, Trent University, Canada... "I hope to have a wonderful class again." Jeonggu Lee, Korea Polytechnic University, South Korea... “We were using everyday technology to connect with people around the world. We were all there for the same purpose: education. We were not only learning about the documentary but about other cultures as well. To me, this was both exciting and new. The guest, the director of the documentary, was a smart guy who gave a lot of thought into things and it was cool listening to him giving an explanation of his work.” Nicholas D’Ingillo, Durham College, Canada... "Students who said they could only hang around for an hour ended up staying the whole time." Prof. Charles Braithwaite, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States... "The global classroom concept is a timely development, especially as it crosses not only national boundaries, but also the sometimes even more forbidding academic ones." Prof. Paul Moon, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand... "The Global Class is doing something very significant in the 'glocal' context." Prof. Mao Sihui, Macao Polytechnic Institute, China... "Time flies when you are learning! We may live in different countries, practice different religions, follow different ways of life, but we are all affected by the planet we live on and we all share its resources and its fate. I loved every minute of the class. Thank you!” Lindsay Unwin, Durham College, Canada... "Thank you for the opportunity today, I really appreciate it. I think it is a brilliant idea and I hope to see it pick up more steam." Lee Brain, Vancouver, Canada... "My students were very excited and they made a lot of preparatory work and home-reading for the discussion. I am convinced that this initiative will have a great future and we are proud to be part of it in its first steps." Prof. Judit Hidasi, Budapest Business School, Hungary... "Solving the world's problems one global class at at time. Love it!" Prof. Sara Humphreys, University of Waterloo, Canada... "It was great to participate in the Global Class! It was a unique opportunity to communicate with peers from over the ocean. My students can't stop talking about it. Some came to me today and asked when the next class was going be." Irina Gogoleva, Moscow International Gymnasia, Russia... “It truly was an experience I will never forget. Being able to converse with such a different amount of people coming from so many different backgrounds was just phenomenal.” Alexander Dotzko, Durham College, Canada... "It was fantastic, opening the doors to educate people in a new and exciting way all over the world." Marcelo da Luz, Sao Paulo, Brazil... "I love that global class." Jigar Patel, Durham College, Canada

Glocal

A global class is a live 90-minute class between four countries, typically three different college or university classes and a guest speaker. A common topic is chosen, and the guest -- an innovative global thinker -- provides resources for the students to review. In the class, the guest gives a brief presentation and the students explore the topic through discussion and activities, guided by the guest who engages, analyzes, and assesses; after the class, the students can complete an assignment in a medium of their choice. A global class allows for an open exploration of universal topics free of outside influence. Students interact with a challenging guest, meet people from varied backgrounds, share materials, and learn from one another. The experience offers the chance to gain a better understanding of our societies and ourselves in complex "glocal" times. The classes are free and open to students everywhere.

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Ahead

"The Global Class is for all students. Humanity thrives on collective learning. It's what gives us power and compassion." - Lon Appleby

The Pick

The Blue Dot Movement
From Mackenzie Ross, Durham College, Canada

MACKENZIE: Did you know that as a Canadian citizen you do not have the right to fresh air, clean water, or healthy food? Around the world, 110 countries recognize the right to live in a healthy environment, and Canada is not one of these countries. The Blue Dot Movement was started in order to help challenge the lack of environmental rights in our country. Blue Dot is run through the David Suzuki Foundation. Instead of tackling the federal government and ruling its way down through our government system, Blue Dot is starting at base and working upwards. Environmental activists such as myself are responsible for starting small Blue Dot campaigns in our respective cities across the country. I am responsible for both Blue Dot Guelph and Blue Dot Oshawa. This movement aims to spread environmental knowledge, and that is why it begins with municipalities then the provincial governments and finally the federal government. I have been asked to make a presentation at Oshawa City Council on Monday, October 5th. I hope to one day have a declaration outlining the rights stated by Blue Dot signed in Oshawa. I hope that many of you will take the time to sign the Blue Dot Oshawa petition. The movement is not legally-binding in any way. Your signature indicates that you simply believe in the right to live in a healthy environment. If you would like your name added to the petition, please email me your first and last name at mackenzie.ross3@dcmail.ca. You can also find Blue Dot Oshawa on Facebook! For more information about the movement, please visit: bluedot.ca. Thank you.

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"Ye Emperors, Kings, Dukes, Marquises, Earls and Knights, and all other people desirous of knowing the diversities of the races of mankind, as well as the diversities of kingdoms, provinces, and regions... read through this book and ye will find in it the greatest and most marvellous characteristics of the people.... For this book will be a truthful one." The Travels of Marco Polo