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CPD activity: 'Contentious' issues
From the CPD activities online resource
Dealing with some of the issues related to Global Citizenship,
such as poverty, the effects of globalisation, and human rights
might present educators with some difficulties. Such issues may
also seem contentions, although each of us will have our own view
about this. Bringing global issues to a local (personal or classroom)
level and working on possible solutions to problems is one starting
point.
Aims:
To show that there are parallels between global and local issues
and for educators to address 'contentious' issues.
What to do - Part A:
This exercise is adapted from Brownlie (1995:13).
This activity could also be done with pupils, in which case try
to de-personalise issues as far as possible, and allow time for
pupils to talk about things individually with you if they wish.
1. Give one A4 copy of the table 'Global
issues and Classroom issues' to each group of participants.
2. As a whole group, discuss the lists to ensure participants'
understanding of each term.
3. In groups, ask the participants to link the global and classroom
issues. (Note that the order of the entries under each heading is
not intentionally matched, and each issue has more than one link.)
4. Ask participants to note some real examples of each of the classroom
issues.
5. Ask them to decide on one issue which they feel would present
them with particular difficulties in the
classroom. Together, formulate possible strategies for dealing with
this situation.
6. Share these strategies with the whole group, and discuss whether
existing school policies and practice incorporate them already,
or should incorporate them.
7. End the session by reflecting on the Dear
Teacher letter (Steiner 1993:12).
What to do - Part B:
1. Give out a copy of the 'Discussion
prompts' and ask participants to jot down the implications of
some or all of these statements for their work in school.
2. In a feedback session, ask one group to lead on each issue,
and then open up for wider discussion.
From the CPD activities online resource
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