Introduction The book, Catching Up, or Leading the Way, American Education in the Age of Globalization, by Yong Zhao began as a book about China’s education, but turned into a book about American education being at a crossroad: one which could destroy America’s future in education, and one in which it could strengthen America’s future in education as well as globally. Zhao believes that the U. S. has been reforming education to look more like China’s, with more standardized testing and less individualism, while China has learned that their education system needs to be transformed to be able to compete in today’s innovative global society through more individualized teachings. I believe that America has been so busy trying to stay “on top”,
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The “virtual world” is much like the global world in that it too is challenging to today’s education. Social networking, gaming, and cyber-terrorism are now impacting society, which has a ripple effect in the future of education. Zhao explained that as educators we must provide students with the right tools to be able to succeed in both the virtual world and global society. Zhao “uses eBay to illustrate the effects of globalization technology on the value of knowledge, skills, and talents” (p.136) when compare to a regular garage sale, to explain both technology and the globalization impact and the magnitude that it has on today’s society. In terms of education with technology and globalization, unique talents and skills become a high commodity that makes school culture conform more towards a diversity of talents and skills when teaching curriculum to help enable student strengths. It all comes down to a global mindset in education that is seen through diversity to enable all children to show their true potential. With global awareness being a vital asset to economic growth, lack of global knowledge can result in lost opportunities, especially when businesses outsource for larger profits. Digital awareness becomes equally as important, since it too is a vital asset to economic growth today. In terms of education, students can be taught how to think on a global scale using …show more content…
Why does education or everything have to be centralized? Why can’t we decentralize education and society’s way of thinking as a whole? I believe that by decentralizing education and allowing for a more individualized approach that we can help students “think for themselves”, and thus build society upon individual’s strengths. Zhao is correct in saying that “American education needs to be more American” and expand on individual talents and differences, as well as embrace diversity while focusing on the future not the past, by personalizing educations, and viewing schools as global enterprises.” (p.
The “virtual world” is much like the global world in that it too is challenging to today’s education. Social networking, gaming, and cyber-terrorism are now impacting society, which has a ripple effect in the future of education. Zhao explained that as educators we must provide students with the right tools to be able to succeed in both the virtual world and global society. Zhao “uses eBay to illustrate the effects of globalization technology on the value of knowledge, skills, and talents” (p.136) when compare to a regular garage sale, to explain both technology and the globalization impact and the magnitude that it has on today’s society. In terms of education with technology and globalization, unique talents and skills become a high commodity that makes school culture conform more towards a diversity of talents and skills when teaching curriculum to help enable student strengths. It all comes down to a global mindset in education that is seen through diversity to enable all children to show their true potential. With global awareness being a vital asset to economic growth, lack of global knowledge can result in lost opportunities, especially when businesses outsource for larger profits. Digital awareness becomes equally as important, since it too is a vital asset to economic growth today. In terms of education, students can be taught how to think on a global scale using …show more content…
Why does education or everything have to be centralized? Why can’t we decentralize education and society’s way of thinking as a whole? I believe that by decentralizing education and allowing for a more individualized approach that we can help students “think for themselves”, and thus build society upon individual’s strengths. Zhao is correct in saying that “American education needs to be more American” and expand on individual talents and differences, as well as embrace diversity while focusing on the future not the past, by personalizing educations, and viewing schools as global enterprises.” (p.