To put it simply, a global perspective is looking at the world more expansively than the conventional viewpoint. The conventional view sees the world as made up of separate, individual parts, unconnected to each other. A global perspective challenges conventional thinking and sees the world from a broader and more integrated outlook. It looks at and understands the world from multiple perspectives
. The world is more complex and interdependent than at any time in the past. You hear this so much it is almost a cliché, but it is true and it leads us to more profound observations. We are expanding our citizenship responsibilities beyond the local, state and national level to include global citizenship. We must know about the world if we expect everyone to responsibly participate as global citizens. We are training young people for a world that we know nothing about. The conventional approach of acquiring disconnected information and then having it evaluated on standardized tests is an educational approach not suited for an uncertain future. We need an approach that is flexible, creative, and able to solve complex problems in a timely and collaborative way. Having a global perspective is imperative for students to navigate an uncertain future. The purpose of GAPs is to broaden and expand educators’ and students’ perspective beyond their own interests, location and culture to encompass the world. When using the GAPs educational resources, readers are assimilating a global perspective that has been thoughtfully designed by the authors, Denise Ames and Nancy Harmon. In other words, a global perspective informs the creation of the Global Awareness curricula.
