This article discusses, principally from an English perspective, globalisation, global citizenship and two forms of education relevant to those developments (global education and citizenship education). We describe what citizenship has meant inside one nation state and ask what citizenship means, and could mean, in a globalising world. By comparing the natures of citizenship education and global education, as experienced principally in England during, approximately, the last three decades, we seek to develop a clearer understanding of what has been done and what might be done in the future in order to develop education for global citizenship. We suggest that up to this point there have been significant differences between the characterisations that have been developed for global education and citizenship education. These differences are revealed through an examination of three areas: focus and origins; the attitude of the government and significant others; and the adoption of pedagogical approaches. We suggest that it would be useful to look beyond old barriers that have separated citizenship education and global education and to form a new global citizenship education. Their separation has in the past only perpetuated the old understandings of citizenship and constructed a constrained view of global education.
I have been Gifted and Talented coordinator in my current school for the past three years, following the completion of the Oxford Brookes training (UK). In that time I have developed my own awareness and beliefs of this exciting area of teaching while experimenting with different ideas with my classes. I have come to view G+T not as the exclusive, elitist form of differentiation that was its initial image, but rather as an essential way of teaching that, at its best, offers challenge for all children while developing essential skills for the future. ‘Top-down’ rather than ‘bottom-up’ teaching; high order thinking; quirky investigations; innovative and unexpected learning links; strategy and spatial awareness; creativity; philosophy; and awareness of learning styles - G+T represents the most crucial aspect of learning: fun. Empowered learners and inspiring teachers should be the cornerstone of 21st Century education. I offer my thoughts about what this means in the classroom.
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