Global Perspectives

What is the nature of Global Perspectives at FC Level?

Global Perspectives is dynamic and relevant. It is a practical subject that helps students to think and rethink about the world they live in and the issues we face. Students will learn and practice the skills of collaboration, communication, information and media literacy organization, affective skills and reflection, critical thinking and creative thinking. Global Perspectives fosters flexible thinking and is designed to encourage students to rethink their knowledge and provide them with the skills for life-long learning.

What is the approach to learning?

In Global Perspectives students learn how to deconstruct an argument and look at its component parts and then to reconstruct an argument after reflecting on its relative strengths and weaknesses. Global issues are examined through the lenses of the IB humanity subjects of Geography, History, Economics, Psychology and Business and Management. Students need to organise themselves, to analyse material, to think creatively and independently and to make decisions about an issue they may not ordinarily have thought about using this critical path to enquiry.

Global Perspectives gives students the opportunity to direct their own learning and choose a global issue to investigate that resonates with them.

What is the subject content?

In Global Perspectives the subject content will be contemporaneous with the issues of the day and will include the examination of ongoing issues such as poverty and gender equality. The content is intended to be directed by student interest.

What is the nature of assessment?

As well as effective written communication in a range of course work appropriate styles, such as essays, reflections and reports, the syllabus is structured as a direct preparation for Group Three Individuals and Societies IB subjects. It helps to foster the research, enquiry, group and individual presentation skills and study skills that can be applied throughout the IB programme.

The assessment is largely formative. Assessment tasks are varied to help develop the appropriate skills needed to complement the IB learner profile. For each topic students have at least one formative assessment, this varies between presentation tasks, contribution to debates, news-reports, and a reflective journal. Summative Assessments are as follows:

1. Written examination A written paper consisting of compulsory, structured questions based on sources provided with the examination paper. Candidates analyse and evaluate arguments, interrogate evidence and compare perspectives on global issues.

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2. Essay Candidates explore different perspectives on an issue of global significance arising from their studies during the course and write an essay based on their research. Students will carry out practice essays with given titles, but for their assessment the essay title is devised by candidates themselves. The essay must be between 1750 and 2000 words and written in continuous prose.

3. Team Project Candidates work in teams to identify a local problem which has global relevance. Individual team members research the issue and suggest solutions to the problem based on their research findings. Teams work together to agree a set of proposed team solutions to the problem and then put their plan into action.

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