Schools in Action

Abstract

We are living in a complex, interconnected and interdependent world. The dramatic global challenges that our planet and societies are facing affect all of us. They include conflicts, terrorism, poverty, climate change, environmental degradation and equitable management of natural resources. In order to engage with 21st century problems and find solutions to tackle them locally and globally, learners need to be equipped with the relevant skills, knowledge, attitudes and values. It is critical for them to understand themselves and their connections with others, as well as realize their individual and collective impacts on the world around them. Teachers have enormous potential to bring about change in society. They affect the lives of their students, they help shape worldviews and attitudes, they nurture potentials and skills. Well-trained teachers can empower learners to become global citizens and sustainable development actors who will help secure a more just, peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and sustainable world. The Global Citizens for Sustainable Development Teachers’ guide aims to introduce teachers to Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It provides secondary school teachers with ideas and activities to help students become global citizens and sustainable development actors. The Teachers’ guide draws on the discussions and activities of almost 1,100 participants from 104 countries, including ASPnet National Coordinators, school principals, teachers, students and experts who contributed to the Online Collaborative Platform ASPnet in Action: Global Citizens Connected for Sustainable Development in 2014 and 2015 [http://en.unesco. org/aspnet/globalcitizens] with associated activities and initiatives. The Teachers’ guide provides: An overview of what it means for learners to become global citizens and of how learners can contribute to sustainable development. Ideas for classroom activities that can help secondary school students to develop knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and behaviours that promote GCED and ESD. Selected activities on GCED and ESD from ASPnet schools around the world. We hope this guide will provide teachers with creative ideas and motivate them to engage with GCED and ESD. We encourage teachers to explore the activities suggested by the guide and invite them to share the activities undertaken with their school community and colleagues.