Defining and Interconnecting

Multicultural and Global Literacy

GLOBALIZATION
Globalization is the process by which ideas,
knowledge, information, goods, and services
spread around the world. It is driven by the
convergence of cultural and economic
systems. This convergence promotes
interaction, integration, and interdependence
among nations. The more countries and
regions of the world become intertwined
politically, culturally, and economically, the
more globalized the world becomes.
GLOBAL LITERACY
Global literacy can be defined as the
education that equips students with the
knowledge, skills, and values they need to
navigate the interconnected world and the
opportunities and challenges they encounter
within (OXFAM,2015).
Being globally literate, allows individuals to
critically think about the world and their
roles in it. A globally literate citizen is
someone who can respect and value
diversity, is committed to social justice, is
aware of the interconnectedness of the
world, works towards a sustainable
environment, and takes responsibility for
their actions (OXFAM, 2015).
HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE GLOBAL
LITERACY INTO YOUR CLASSROOM?
• News
• Artifacts, pictures/videos, and objects
• Literature
• Foreign languages
Multicultural Literacy
Why is multiculturalism important?
Multicultural Literacy
consists of the skills and ability to
identify the creators of knowledge and their
interests (Banks, 1996), to uncover the
assumptions of knowledge, to view
knowledge from diverse ethnic and cultural
perspectives, and to use knowledge to guide
action that will create a humane and just
world (Boutte, 2008)
What could be the benefits of
multicultural literacy?
Multicultural literacy has numerous
benefits. It promotes tolerance and reduces
stereotypes and biases. It enhances our
ability to work effectively in diverse teams,
whether in our local communities or in the
global marketplace. It fosters empathy and a
broader perspective on global issues.
The skills and knowledge required for one to
be multi-culturally literate are not mere
language skills, since it is assumed that
some medium of communication already
exists between two cultures. Rather, true
multicultural literacy consists of (PISA) proposes a new perspective on the
perspectives, attitudes, and beliefs about definition
other cultures that affect the way we
and assessment of global competence that
communicate and the motives behind our
will help
communication.
policy makers and school leaders create
Here are some examples:
learning resources and curricula that
• Be Selfless integrate global competence as a
multifaceted cognitive, socio-emotional, and
• Know that good and useful things can (and
civic learning goal.”
do) come from those different from us
- Boix Mansilla (2016)
• Be willing to compromise
DIMENSION 1: EXAMINE ISSUES OF
• Accept that there are limits
LOCAL, GLOBAL AND CULTURAL
HOW DOES GLOBAL LITERACY SIGNIFICANCE
INTERCONNECT WITH
This dimension refers to globally competent
MULTICULTURAL LITERACY?
people’s practices of effectively utilizing
Global literacy is interconnected to knowledge about the world and critical
multicultural literacy because it stems from reasoning in forming their own opinions
the idea of having an inclusive and diverse about a global issue.
education system where students from all
DIMENSION 2: UNDERSTAND AND
cultural backgrounds are given the same
APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVES
level of recognition and respect that they
AND WORLD VIEWS OF OTHERS
deserve. Similarly, global literacy and
multicultural literacy address social justice This dimension highlights that globally
and social differences found within the competent people are willing and capable of
broader community. considering other people’s perspectives and
behaviors from multiple viewpoints to
DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL
examine their own assumptions.
COMPETENCE: IMPLICATIONS TO
EDUCATION DIMENSION 3: ENGAGE IN OPEN,
APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE
WHAT IS GLOBAL COMPETENCE?
INTERACTIONS ACROSS CULTURES
Education for global competence is founded
This dimension describes what globally
on the ideas of different models of global
competent individuals can do when they
education, such as intercultural education,
interact with people from different cultures.
global citizenship education, and education
for democratic citizenship. DIMENSION 4: TAKE ACTION FOR
COLLECTIVE WELL-BEING AND
-UNESCO (2014a) and Council of Europe
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2016a)
This dimension focuses on young people’s
“Programme for International Student
role as active and responsible members of
Assessment
society and refers to an individual’s
readiness to respond to a given local, global,
or intercultural issue or situation.
EIGHT-SCALE TOOL FOR MAPPING
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
THE MELTING POT OF CULTURE
The world is a melting pot of cultures.
Every country, culture, region, or religion
has different rules, regulations, rituals, and
norms. Today, the world has become smaller
and interactions between different cultures,
especially at the workplace, take place daily.