Visions for International Education Essay Example for Free

Visions for International Education Essay Klafki introduces terms like increasing interrelations, mutual dependencies, fate of all continents, cultures, states and societies when addressing the core problems our modern world faces at the turn of the century. A world, which has shrunk since the tunes of Walt Disney’s â€Å"It’s a small world after all†¦..[1]†, and in the aftermath of wars, trade and spheres of progress – appears to be closely knit. The points he makes are very clear through the discussion on 6 complexes of development, though you could look at them solitarily, they are very much intermeshed, as he points out. The entwinement of both individual capabilities and society focus, is very evident in all 6 points, be it: information availability or existential necessity. I couldn’t agree more; unfortunately conflicts exist in our own society, while promoting and claiming a route of tolerance and inclusion on one hand, we wish to be selective and limit the amount of â€Å"fugitives† we can accommodate annually, on the other. First, Klafki approaches education and educational science from a universal standing, where conditioning and development have to have common ground globally. There are many perspectives to developing knowledge and awareness and students of the future need to have an international stance to problems at a very early age. Although he tends to draw a very utopian picture, he keeps focus through his discussion with five key issues towards implementation and involvement. First key issue is â€Å"the problem of peace† and its educational value, as he addresses it, which consists of two main elements: 1. Macro-sociological and macro-political causes of threats to peace or of wars. 2. Moral justification for wars if there are any. The second key issue, he reflects upon, is that of â€Å"environment†, again globally and in conjunction to â€Å"accountability and controllability of scientific-technological development† he addresses the possible need to assist the lesser developed countries in global interest by removing blatant inequality through insight to First world knowledge. An excellent point and one very much current through efforts like movements such as â€Å"Camp for Climate Action[2]†. Klafki makes points on 3 main tasks for dealing with this global initiative towards educating the youth of tomorrow about the environment: 1. Awareness of ecological obligations and the consequences of unchecked tech-eco development. 2. Appreciation of developing energy-saving and environmentally sound consumer behavior. 3. Realization of maintaining, monitoring and further development of initiatives at an international and local level: glocal commitments. Third key issue addresses the inequality which certainly exists within societies and internationally between social classes, gender, employed/unemployed. He points out that at a national level and where the task of inter-cultural education really poses itself, is between a countrys foreign nationalities and even between them and the native population. The fourth key issues, as he puts it, are threats and opportunities amidst a vast and evolving field of new technical control, information and communications media. These tools should be embraced critically and included in any form that can boost education, while weighing the pros and cons of their effect on the user, through both possible social consequence and media misuse. Nay to both euphoria and phobia, but involve them in furthering didactic concepts in the classroom. His fifth and final key issue is on inter-personal engagement, involvement, recognition and responsibility: I-You relationships are central and enlightenment is very much the field for this issue. Now just because we are able to agree across the board on these issues being the basis, problems are not solved, because enlightenment is simply our first global quest. We need to maintain concentration on the key issues to succeed at the international level of education and promote discussion and debate via national curricula. In fact, if we are merely able to promote the significance of these key issues, then solutions can be nationally various and toned, as long as they are based in general for those who are potentially concerned. Soundly enough we also need to address four fundamental attitudes and abilities, which can assist in our quest towards global teachings and classroom practices: 1. Ability to criticize: as well as receive by furthering a point, suggestion or solution. 2. Ability to argue: to contribute to a better-founded insight on all angles of cognition. 3. Empathy: in understanding a counterpart – even if a solution is far from the scope. 4. Networked thought: interrelationships that connect everything with everything. Even after all of these discussions, it boils down to time and teaching – planning and teams. There is a clear necessity to organise and discuss reform: 1. How should class activity be blocked for lessons? 2. Should lessons be in 45 minute intervals or 2 hours? 3. The responsibility of the teaching team and its structure: How much or how little? These are simple questions and a minute contribution which need to be addressed, if there is to be any fruitful outcome through this process. The interrelated educational principles of exemplary teaching and learning, method oriented learning, action-oriented teaching and co-operative learning, all need a more fluid approach. Mutual trust is a necessity and with a realistic approach to implementation and evaluation we are well on our way – whether it seems utopian or not.