ABSTRACT
Hanvey’s 1976 essay concerning “An Attainable Global Perspective” remains an excellent grounding to teach global education. We can derive from that landmark essay at least two main ideas - first that gaining a complete grasp of our globe is a developmental task that relatively few of us can achieve and second that it is best understood in terms of five key dimensions. Other approaches suggest that attitudes of openness to those from different cultural backgrounds and dispositions like curiosity are just as important in developing globally competent citizens. Students can get started on this process through a number of entry points. One powerful one would be to have students reflect on their own ethnic and racial identities and how they are perceived by their own community and the society at large. Further exploration of the meaning of global awareness can be achieved through case studies, travel and community-based projects. Including an element of personal choice is a vital ingredient in making such projects successful.
