Global Awareness and Perspectives in World History

The world today is a complex and fascinating place with so many possibilities
and opportunities. Today’s student needs to possess high-tech skills, broad
interdisciplinary knowledge about the contemporary world, and adaptability,
flexibility, and world mindedness to participate effectively in the globalized world.

There are five dimensions of global awareness: perspective consciousness,
state-of-the planet awareness, cross-cultural awareness, awareness of global
dynamics, and awareness of human choices. These five dimensions form the
foundational attitudes upon which global awareness can be implemented.

Perspective consciousness
Perspective consciousness refers to an awareness of and appreciation for other
images of the world and that a person's worldview is neither universally shared,
nor necessarily right, yet may be profoundly different. It is the realization that an
individual's worldview is both a matter of conscious opinions and ideas and more
importantly to subconscious evaluations, conceptions and unexamined
assumptions. Perspectives are shaped by ethnic, religious, differences in age,
sex, and social status, among many other factors.

State-of-the-planet awareness
State-of-the-planet awareness requires comprehension of prevailing world
conditions, developments, trends, and problems that are confronting the world
community. It includes an in-depth understanding of global issues such as
population growth, migrations, economic disparities, depletion of resources, and
international conflicts, that require global learners to be aware of the world
around them.

Cross-cultural awareness
This dimension includes the diversity of ideas and practices in human societies
and how these ideas and practices are found in human societies around the
world, including concepts of how others might view one's own society as
perceived from other vantage points.

Knowledge of global dynamics
Knowledge of global dynamics refers to an understanding of the world as an
interconnected system of complex traits and mechanisms and unanticipated
consequences.

Awareness of human choices
Awareness of human choices challenges global thinkers to realize the problems
of choices confronting individuals and nations and the human race as
consciousness and knowledge of global systems expand.