Global Perspectives Course: Cultivating Global Citizens

The Global Perspectives course is designed to cultivate global citizens equipped to address global challenges and contribute to a more just and sustainable world. It serves as a foundational element for the Ignatian Global Scholar program, aiming to develop learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged.

Course Overview

This course, potentially aligned with the Cambridge/AICE framework, focuses on exploration, research, reflection, and communication. Students delve into multiple perspectives on issues facing the world, both presently and historically, through collaborative discussions, seminars, research projects, and writing assignments. The course prepares students for the Cambridge International AS Global Perspectives & Research exam and the Team Project component.

Core Themes and Topics

The course explores global topics such as technology, science, politics, ethics, the environment, economics, social relationships, and culture. These themes act as a backdrop against which students refine their research and writing skills. The curriculum is often responsive to real-time global events. Guided by the Universal Apostolic Preferences, the course utilizes contemporary world literature to examine issues of global significance such as education, poverty, peace and justice, migration, and climate change. In addition to reading literature, students will watch films, conduct research, and implement individual and group projects on global topics of choice. Through virtual exchanges and other activities, students will gain a deeper awareness of the international network of Jesuit schools and will consider their role in carrying out its global mission.

Key Skills Developed

The Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research course aims to develop learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged. Exploration, research, reflection, and communication are skills students broaden in the Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research course.

Critical Thinking and Analysis

Students develop critical thinking skills through source analysis, argument evaluation, and bias identification. They learn to deconstruct, reconstruct, reflect on, and communicate information effectively. The Critical Path (deconstruction, reconstruction, reflection, communication, and collaboration) is applied to source analysis. CAPER (Context, Argument, Purpose, Evidence, Reliability) is applied to source analysis. They investigate arguments from various perspectives with peers.

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Research and Inquiry

The course emphasizes research skills, including the ability to formulate research questions, conduct literature reviews, and gather evidence from diverse sources. Students will create a research list. They research a topic using a specific perspective or lens. They research solutions to a global issue.

Communication and Collaboration

Students hone their communication skills through essay writing, presentations, and group projects. They learn to articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively, both in writing and orally. Collaboration with a group on a local problem with global significance and collaboration with peers to present research findings are key components.

Perspective-Taking and Global Awareness

A central goal is to foster global awareness and perspective-taking. Students examine global issues from multiple viewpoints, considering the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts. They analyze information on their chosen title question through a variety of perspectives using authentic research.

Course Structure and Components

The course is often structured into segments, each focusing on specific skills and assessments. Below are typical components of each segment:

Segment 1

Understand the components of the Cambridge AICE Global Perspectives and Independent Research AS exam.
Summarize and apply the steps of The Critical Path (deconstruction, reconstruction, reflection, communication, and collaboration) to source analysis.
Apply CAPER to source analysis.
Understand the elements of an argument.
Identify bias in an argument.
Investigate arguments from various perspectives with peers.
Apply AICE skills and peer evaluation to essay writing.
Analyze sources for reliability and validity.
Apply proper citations to source materials.
Apply basic English grammar rules to AICE exam writing.
Analyze AICE exam questions using key words and point values to provide the most appropriate response.
Collaborate with a group on a local problem with global significance.
Research a topic using a specific perspective or lens.
Present research to a group of your peers.
Write title questions, introductions, and conclusions featuring a strong argument, backed by evidence.
Write a body paragraph using PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).
Understand requirements of Component 2 exam submission.
Create a research list.

Segment 2

Apply style rules to Component 2 essay writing including sentence structure, word choice, and diction.
Apply the self-assessment checklist to your Component 2 essay.
Review Component 2 requirements in a peer's essay writing.
Apply critical feedback to the revision of your Component 2 essay.
Revise the final draft of your Component 2 essay based on the required criteria.
Analyze information on your chosen title question through a variety of perspectives using authentic research.
Understand the requirements of Component 3 of the AICE Global Perspectives exam.
Apply the Critical Path to Component 3.
Analyze a presentation for key criteria.
Understand the use of title questions in preparing a Component 3 presentation.
Assess screen-readiness of presentation skills.
Reflect on the effectiveness of team collaboration.
Reflect on your own learning.
Research solutions to a global issue.
Collaborate with peers to present research findings.

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods may include:

Essays: Students write essays to demonstrate their understanding of course concepts and their ability to analyze and synthesize information. Apply AICE skills and peer evaluation to essay writing. Write title questions, introductions, and conclusions featuring a strong argument, backed by evidence. Write a body paragraph using PEEL. Apply style rules to Component 2 essay writing including sentence structure, word choice, and diction. Apply the self-assessment checklist to your Component 2 essay. Review Component 2 requirements in a peer's essay writing. Apply critical feedback to the revision of your Component 2 essay and revise the final draft of your Component 2 essay based on the required criteria.
Presentations: Students deliver presentations to share their research findings and engage in discussions with their peers. Present research to a group of your peers. Analyze a presentation for key criteria and assess screen-readiness of presentation skills.
Research Projects: Students conduct independent or group research projects on global topics of their choice.
Exams: Students may take exams to assess their knowledge of course content and their ability to apply critical thinking skills.
Team Projects: Students work collaboratively on projects addressing global issues.

Global Perspectives Proficiency & Experience

Students may have opportunities to fulfill a Global Perspectives Proficiency & Experience requirement through various activities.

Co-Curricular Activities

Student experiences must involve at least fourteen days of an immersive experience in a global culture. Details of the activity used to complete the Global Perspectives requirement should be described. In the reflection, students answer the following questions, what global culture or society did you experience through this activity? What did you come to understand about this culture or society and its perspectives? In what ways are the views and values of this culture similar to those of your home culture? In what ways are these views and values different? What did you come to understand about the impact of this society or culture on the world? Third-party verification of hours in the form of a letter, engagement portal screenshot, etc. is requested.

SMU Coursework

Sometimes students complete, or desire to take, an SMU course which was not tagged with the desired Proficiency & Experience, but after reviewing the Student Learning Outcomes, Supporting Skills, Course Content Criteria (outlined above), they believe they may have satisfied the requirement. A final supporting statement, using the provided template, on how the course achieved the Student Learning Outcome, Supporting Skills, and Course Content Criteria is required.

Study Abroad

All approved programs of SMU Abroad can fulfill this requirement.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Global Perspectives course, students will be able to:

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Analyze and explore complex global challenges.
Collaborate respectfully with diverse others.
Apply learning to take responsible action in contemporary global contexts.
Evaluate the goals, methods, and consequences of that action.
Demonstrate enhanced sense of identity, community, and perspective taking.

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