Teaching in a Globally-Connected World

This book examines the current social, political, economic, and religious climate of the world, makes projections for the future, and then makes suggestions for what the contributors believe educators need to think about in order to adequately prepare young people to successfully navigate that future. We live in a globally-connected world, and young people, as they move into the future, need to be prepared to live in that future. Schools (and teachers) tend to focus on the present, which is okay; however, schools (and teachers) must decide what is important to know in the present in order for young people to be successful in the future. The responsibility of education today must be to prepare learners to live in an unknown future, that is global, and not be so focused on an uncertain present.

Ervin F. Sparapani is a retired professor of secondary education, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI. Ervin earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He believes that teachers, educational leaders, and parents have the responsibility to prepare young people to be critical thinkers and flexible learners that can adapt readily to a global world both now and in the future.
Pamela L. Ross McClain is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan-Flint where she directs the Educational Leadership Doctor of Education program. Pamela earned a Ph.D. from MSU is in curriculum instruction and educational policy with a cognate in teacher and staff development. She has been a professional educator for nearly two decades and remains dedicated to supporting educational professionals at all levels in experiencing success in schools.

Foreword-Amy M. Cooper
Introduction-Ervin F. Sparapani and Pamela L. Ross McClain
Introduction to Part I-A Global Society: Socially, Politically, Economically, Religiously
Understanding U. S. Society and Globalization: Some Considerations for Meaningful and Useful Future CareersBrian J. Smith
Politics in the Age of Globalization: Actors, Institutions, and Key Issue Areas for Global Leadership Pablo Toral
Hyper-Dynamism: Describing and Characterizing Major Current and Future Global Economic Trends Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, Stacie Krupp, Tom Sesti, and Eva Ester Shalin
Understanding the Major Word Religions in an American Classroom Byung-In Seo
Visionary Leadership and Parent, Student, and Teacher EmpowermentIntroduction to Part II-Visionary Leadership and Parent, Student, and Teacher Empowerment
Educating for the Future: Designing Curriculum for the Twenty-First Century Ervin F. Sparapani and David M. Callejo Perez
Visionary Principals and School District Leadership for a Globally-Connected World Anne R. Tapp and Catherine L. Meyer-LoozePrincipals and Professional Learning Communities: Developing Teacher Leaders for the Twenty-First Century, Globally-Connected World Ervin F. Sparapani, Shannon M. Pietras, Nicole M. Rogers, Paul J. Voydanoff, Danielle R. MacKay, and David G. Fuchs
The Globally-Connected World and the Teacher Leader: The Issue of Teacher EmpowermentErvin F. Sparapani, Danielle R. MacKay, David G. Fuchs, Paul J. Voydanoff, Nicole M. Rogers, and Shannon M. Pietras
Twenty-First Century Schools, Global Citizenship, and Glocalization: Empowering Parents and Student to Think Globally and Act Locally Pamela L. Ross McClain and De'Andre L. Shepard
Teaching with a Future Orientation: Moving Learners to the FutureIntroduction to Part III-Teaching with a Future Orientation: Moving Learners to the Future
Complementing Critical Thinking with Mentalpreneruial Thinking: A New Teaching Paradigm for the Future Hyper-Dynamic Workplace Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, Tom Sesti, Stacie Krupp, and Alex Titus-Glover
Literacy Practices: A Way Forward Suzanne D. Knight and Marc B. Vickers
Developing Global Understanding through Mathematics David K. Pugalee and Courtney L. Glavich
Science in a Globally-Connected World: Science and the Next Generation of Learners in a Global Society Beth M. Rittenberg
The Future of Social Studies Teaching: Preparing Learners for Life in a Global Society Kieran J. Astley, Jimm E. Bohn, Jr., Heather L. Selich, Jayne M. Sherbeck, and C. Rodney Williams
Arts Education: Empowering Teachers to Move Learners Forward by Elevating Creativity in the Arts Carolyn J. Schaeffer and Scott R. Kirst
Foreign Language: Not So Foreign Anymore Kasydra J. Goode-Tibbs
Technology: The Driver for Twenty-First Century Skills Amy M. Cooper and Lisa H. Meyers