Imagine a classroom where students are not only engaged but also deeply curious about the world. That's a goal for many teachers, but one that can be challenging to achieve.
CFR Education believes that students who are literate in global affairs will possess this curiosity. Global affairs literacy is the ability to understand and engage effectively in today’s interconnected world. It consists of three pillars: knowledge, skills, and perspective.
This blog post offers a more detailed explanation of these pillars for those who would like to explore this definition further.
This blog post explores the different components of global affairs literacy, explains why each is so important, and discusses how CFR Education’s simulations can help strengthen them.
Breaking Down the Three Pillars of Global Affairs Literacy
Knowledge
The first pillar, knowledge, refers to having a foundational understanding of the issues, forces, and actors that shape today’s world. The world is increasingly connected; what happens in distant places often affects students’ everyday lives. If students understand this concept, they can approach a work of literature, a piece of social sciences research, or a data analysis problem with greater context and depth.
Another aspect of knowledge comes from CFR Education's identity as the educational arm of a think tank: global policy is formed through collaborative processes that engage diverse and sometimes competing interests, values, and perspectives. This concept is important for students to understand because it helps them to decode policy decisions in the news, and in so doing, it gives them agency to understand, engage with, and—if they choose— influence those policies.
Skills
The second component of global affairs literacy is skills, which comprise a wide range of competencies that span disciplines. For example, being able to effectively read, write, speak, and listen about global challenges and opportunities can be an important part of any number of assignments, from a primary source analysis to a geography essay.
Perspective
Perspective is the last component and includes students’ habits of mind. Students need to identify nuances in global issues rather than simply view them as black and white. The world is complicated. It is crucial that students understand global affairs from the point of view of others whose backgrounds and experiences differ and who, therefore, may open their minds to a new way of addressing an issue.
Global Affairs Literacy in Simulations
CFR Education simulations incorporate all aspects of global affairs literacy in one activity. Simulations invite teachers and their students to step into the roles of decision-makers as they consider case studies of historical and current events. CFR Education has over 60 simulations from which to choose.
Let's look at an example simulation: Should the United States Ban TikTok to Preserve National Security? to help you understand how simulations strengthen global affairs literacy.
Example Simulation on TikTok
Knowledge
The largest section of a simulation is the Situation, which covers the knowledge pillar of global affairs literacy. This section explains what TikTok is, establishes that it is run by a Chinese company, and discusses U.S. lawmakers' concerns about the app. The Situation section also discusses the differences between how the U.S. and China run their economies and regulate cyberspace, and why the two countries have different values.
Tip: If the background on China excites you and your students, check out this lesson plan, which explores these topics in greater depth.
Together, everything in the Situation gives a solid foundation for discussing TikTok as it relates to national security.
Skills
The next section of a simulation is the Decision Point. This lays out the very specific question that the students, playing the role of presidential advisors, must wrestle with. In discussing the question, they will need to speak and listen to each other, working collaboratively to consider options and come up with solutions.
The decision point has been specifically designed to help students identify nuance. At this point in the simulation, policy options are suggested for students to consider. There are always at least three, requiring students to consider the issue along a spectrum or multiple axes. When only two options are considered, students tend to line up on opposing sides of a yes/no question.
Perspective
When running a simulation, each student is assigned a role. Students will likely be familiar with certain roles, like the President and Vice President, but may not be familiar with others, like Secretary of State or Director of National Intelligence.
The roles and goals sheet provided with each simulation will be your guide. By reading through the handout, students will learn about what each position needs to accomplish. Through this role-playing, students practice appreciating others’ perspectives.
Global Affairs Literacy in Your Classes
How does global affairs literacy show up in your classes? What knowledge, skills, and perspectives are already a part of what you teach? Check out our website for more resources to build global affairs literacy in your students!