FROM ALEXIS MENTEN, ASIA SOCIETY:
I am writing to inform you of a new self-assessment tool for afterschool programs that focuses on global learning as a means to enhance quality in out-of-school time. The Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool is a resource created by Asia Society’s Partnership for Global Learning, developed with the New York State Afterschool Network (NYSAN) and in collaboration with afterschool partners, to assess and improve programs’ capacity to help build the global competence of youth.
The Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool is meant to be used in conjunction with other quality tools to help programs focus on how to create or improve the conditions necessary for successful global learning within a high-quality program. Therefore, we would very much appreciate your assistance in announcing this additional resource to the field and featuring it alongside existing quality tools via a link to our website, where the tool is available as a free downloadable
PDF: http://asiasociety.org/node/10572
Asia Society’s Partnership for Global Learning works to develop youth to be successful citizens, workers, and leaders by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in an increasingly interconnected world. The term global competence has emerged as a way to articulate these knowledge and capacities, and as such it represents a crucial shift in our understanding of the purpose of education in a changing world. Simply put, globally competent youth can successfully investigate the world of their immediate environment and beyond; recognize their own and others’ perspectives; communicate ideas to diverse audiences; and take action to make a difference both locally and globally. Young people everywhere – from all backgrounds – deserve the opportunity to access global learning opportunities both during and after school that help them succeed in the global economy and contribute as global citizens.
We believe that global learning is both an appropriate and relevant goal for the afterschool field. Afterschool, before-school, and summer programs in schools, community- and faith-based organizations, and other settings, are appropriate places to look at learning and communities in new ways. Moreover, afterschool professionals bring a wealth of experience in developing understanding and appreciation of diverse people and cultures. Global learning is most effective when it builds on the connections that we all have to others in our communities and to the world around us; however, global learning implies much more than exposing young people to the cultures in their communities. It requires an intentional approach to expanding horizons for youth, so as to increase the critical global knowledge and skills required for future success.
The Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool <http://sites.asiasociety.org/pgl2010/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/afterschool-assessment.pdf> serves as a guide for programs that wish to bolster their program design, environment, activities, and policies to build global competence in youth. For programs that are just getting started with global learning, the tool can be used as a framework for guiding preliminary discussions and to help identify areas of high-quality global learning in out-of-school time. More established programs can use the tool to measure progress to date and plot growth over time.
We welcome your feedback on the Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool and would be happy to discuss with you further ideas about how we might work together to advance high-quality afterschool programs that help youth become globally competent for the 21st century.
Alexis Menten | Asia Society | Assistant Director, Education | 725 Park Avenue | New York, NY | 10021 | t 212.327.9348 | f 212.717.1234 | www.asiasociety.org
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