Globalization, Change and Education

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Globalization, Change and Education

The process of globalization has had diverse impacts on the holistic wellbeing of the society. Essentially, it denotes the integration of societies, cultures, economies in to a single global network. This is triggered by various factors included advances in technology, increased communication, improved transportation and integration of markets. The inherent integration is culminating in the restructuring of cultural, economic as well as political systems. As a result, this has direct impacts on the quality as well as content of education. The inherent dynamism is compelling instructors as well as learners o adopt other methods of teaching and learning that are reflective of the expectations of the society. It is against this background that this paper provides an evaluation of the implications of globalization on the teaching process.

To begin with, advances in technology have impacted on the instruction methods in different ways. In this regard, educators are increasingly adopting the new forms in media in instruction. Computers and the internet are particularly useful in communication between students and teachers. In their research, Adams and Carfagna (2006) indicate that students can effectively communicate with their teachers as well as fellow students through email. The internet is also useful in research. A host of academic information that is found online has prompted the teachers to require students to perform more tasks related to research. In this regard, technology has enhanced the process of information retrieval.

Also, globalization has culminated in increased cultural diversification of classrooms. As a result, teachers are required to assume different teaching methods in order to address the diverse needs their classrooms. Free movement of people and information has led to internationalization of education. Students from abroad have a chance to experience foreign learning environments. Instructors in this regard are forced to not only use multiple instruction methods but they are also required to use an official single language that can be understood by students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Integration of economies and political systems has to a great extent influenced the content of the education curriculums. Teachers in this regard are required to align the information that they pass on to students to the changing social, political and economic systems (Stromquist, 2002). This goes a long way in ensuring that the respective students have the skills, knowledge and competencies that enable them to perform optimally in the diverse market environments. This has greatly changed the methods of instructions and as aforementioned, technology is plays an instrumental role in necessitating the process of teaching.

Nonetheless, globalization has also posed various challenges to the process of teaching. The advances in technology require educators to be conversant with various the emergent changes in order to maintain an optimal output. Educators tat lack the respective skills find it difficult to foster quality education. Then, the increased movement across borders has had diverse impacts on the education values and practices that are practiced abroad. In essence, this had undermined the cultural diversity of some institutions that have been compelled to assume uniform approaches. The establishment of bilingual programs to cater for the needs of students from multicultural populations requires significant resources that would have been otherwise employed for improving the quality of education in the respective institutions. In sum, globalization has had significant impacts on education and specifically on the process of teaching.

References

Adams, M. & Carfagna, A. (2006). Coming of age in a globalized world: The next generation. Bloomfield, CT: Kumerian Press.

Stromquist, N. (2002). Education in a globalized world: A connectivity of economic power technology and knowledge. New York: Rowman and Littlfield Publishers.