https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz By: Harry Xiayi Ren en-us 2021-10-07 14:23:42 UTC 2022-06-20 03:32:23 UTC hello@padlet.com BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800004301 To me international-mindedness means to be respectful, kind and knowledgable about not just your own culture, beliefs, customs, country and background but also those of others. In other words, international-mindedness means to be flexible and have the ability to take-on, appreciate and understand a multitude of different perspectives when engaging with any part of what makes up our world today. In addition, it also means being aware and playing your part in problems and issues of varying scales that are not just affecting you but also other people around the world (global issues). ]]> 2021-10-07 14:31:01 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800004301 BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800005781 What it means to be a "global citizen" is to first be internationally-minded and aware and knowledgable about global issues/problems that we are facing today. In addition, it also means to be: open-minded, caring, balanced, reflective, principled and knowledgable about not only your own cultural background but also that of others. Integrating one's understanding of global issues together with the various attributes that I believe a "global citizen" should encompass, being a "global citizens" is ultimately about doing what you can in the situation and circumstance you are in in making the world a more peaceful and sustainable place for all. Whether it is at home, in school, a local neighbourhood, community and/or larger scale efforts, a "global citizen" is able to play their part and take action in making the world a more equitable and sustainable place by striving for balance; taking risks; analyzing problems facing our world and thinking of solutions; and communicating with others respectfully and effectively.]]> 2021-10-07 14:31:21 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800005781 BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800006647 Both Science and being a global citizen requires students to be curious and open about the world and as well as developing an understanding of the complexity and diversity of living things and their interactions. In Biology and other Group 4 subjects, students are learning about Science. In addition to the wide range of understandings, applications and skills that students need to learn, local, global and cultural contexts related to the subject matter are also explored so as to develop international-mindedness in students. By applying what they have learned and are learning into context in a local and global setting, this can allow for opportunities for inquiry-based learning whilst tackling or investigating global and/or local issues. As a Science and as the IB Biology curriculum and co-curriculum emphasizes the importance of building global citizenship via international-mindedness, a lot of the discoveries that are talked about in topics and sub-topics involve collaboration between multiple different parts of the world, bringing everyone closer together in tackling problems facing our world (ex. stem cells, genetics). Likewise, this can serve as motivation for students to collaborate and connect what they are learning to local and globally-minded issues and encourages students to be aware of how the nature of science is internationally-minded. All in all, students can develop attributes of the IB learner profile when applying what they have learned in local and global contexts.

]]> 2021-10-07 14:31:36 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800006647 BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800007399 In my classroom, we have students from varying cultures and nationalities which makes for an interesting place of discussion when it comes to topics that have to do with international-mindedness. For instance, the discovery of stem cells was an international endeavour at one point in time and the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells was hailed as a breakthrough in science across the entire world. However, different communities, cultures and nationalities around the world have different views regarding the use and harvesting of stem cells for therapeutic purposes in the world today and having students from varying nationalities and cultures makes for interesting discussion on what they think should or should not be done.]]> 2021-10-07 14:31:48 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800007399 BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800008060 How I can help my students understand the importance of international understanding is first showcasing to them that the very nature of science is an interdisciplinary area of knowledge and that Biology itself is an interdisciplinary field of study, which means that its very nature is to involve collaboration. Also, science is what makes the world go round and is what has contributed to making the world a better place most of the time. Science is not confined to the boundaries of a school or nation or community of people. All of the major breakthroughs in science, medicine and related areas of study involve some sort of collaboration on an international scale and more importantly, requires scientists and people alike to be internationally-minded. This can help serve as motivation for students to think about the importance and significance of international-mindedness in Biology and science.]]> 2021-10-07 14:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800008060 BiologyForLife https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800008619 Some activities that I have carried out in my class that have highlighted international-mindedness are the debate behind the ethical use of stem cells in therapeutics and the research and scientific process that went behind discovering stem cells in the first place. Students realized that although the discovery of the existence of stem cells depended on the work of teams of scientists across the world (boundless research), the subsequent application of this translational research in therapeutics is affected by other sociocultural factors.  Students can think about and share how to present relevant information about the benefits and harms of the use of stem cells to audiences of different sociocultural backgrounds in order to help make the world a better place. This evidently highlights and celebrates international-mindedness.]]> 2021-10-07 14:32:08 UTC https://padlet.com/BiologyForLife/qvg7lzkwjxv9hplz/wish/1800008619