Biology is not only a way to get to know “how life works” and how its processes occur, but also a way of understanding interactions between us and the others. Is a way of knowing the connection and impact that we have in our environment and how it interferes with us and other life forms. Biology is about connection, interaction, links, binds, relationships. 

 

Schools that encourage their students to be “global citizens” may use Biology as a discipline that provides not only a way to think about our reality but also to consider and connect with others globally. Here are some examples: 

- Global health problems such as STD´s; 

- Climate change and the way it affects humans all over the globe; 

- Genetics and it various applications. 

 

The need to encourage our students to be problem solvers and creative thinkers can be stimulated by biology and other group 4 subjects. 

It’s very common to talk in our classroom about student´s experiences or previous knowledge as a starting point to engage on some topics or open debates. 

When we need to choose texts, papers, scientific researches, locations or environmental problems, for example, the teacher always considers the diversity of students’ backgrounds and tries to include their experiences in the process.

- increase of health diseases due to environmental problems; 

- climate change and consequent threat to habitats and biodiversity; 

- scarcity of drinkable water supplies; 

- spread of multi resistant bacteria;

 

All these issues have to be considered as problems that concern all human beings and there has to be an international effort to join knowledge and try to control, monitor or minimize the effect of each one. 

It’s fundamental that our students understand the need and importance of thinking, sharing and acting as a whole.  

To engage on these topics it´s crucial to make them know organizations, committees, foundations, research, studies and programmes that bind countries and cultures in the quest for a solution. 

It´s also important to involve our students in field trips to other institutions and promote the connection between those institutions and our school.

After that we share opinions, debate some questions and we always end up talking about the need to act, react and make changes. When we do it, students always consider a global view, never local or individual. 

At the same time we celebrate (in our biology class) a lot of important dates, for example, World Diabetes Day. We use this to focus on the importance of debating and discussing these kind of subjects and to make sure students understand that others, in different places, do the same.