Learning journal: IB workshop: Developing international-mindedness

Hello everyone, my name is Rika and I am a new IB PYP teacher. I just started taking an IB workshop called "Making the PYP happen in the early years: Implementing agency". and I decided to write my learning journal to document my journey. At the first week of the workshop, we focus on how to develop international-mindedness in kids, and also we try to define what it is.

Since this is going to be my learning journal, I will try to keep my visible thinking routine simple, so I will use

“I used to think … Now I think …”  format to simplify the recordings of my progress.

If you happen to be on the IB journey, I hope you share your thoughts as well!!

“The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” (IB mission statement).

I used to think the international-mindedness is a mindset that people cultivate through life experience. I used to think it is an attribute naturally develops for certain people, and I used to unwillingly accept the fact that some people will never cultivate that attribute.( In a way, I might have given up trying to convince them.)

I was born in a small town on a mountain in Japan. Though most people are more than super conservative in this town, somehow I was curious about the world outside and went to the US. to study, work, and lived there for more than 20 years... Naturally I learned the international-mindedness in a hard way... and I had believed unless people experienced international environment themselves it is impossible to acquire the international-mindedness.

Now, I have taken the IB workshop about how to develop international mindedness in early year students, I feel not only it is possible to start cultivating it in people, but also I started having a sense of mission to teach the international-mindedness for kids (and  maybe for their parents) especially when they were born in non international environment. Without the education, they would remain unexposed to international-mindedness and will be left behind of this very important subject. They might miss their chance to contribute to create a better and more peaceful world for them.

The IBO defines that the “International-mindedness is a view of the world in which people see themselves connected to the global community and assume a sense of responsibility towards its members. It is an awareness of the interrelatedness of all nations and peoples, and is a recognition of the complexity of these” .

So what can we do???

We have to value kids' inquiries on similarities and differences between people, then creating opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange and action, and also we need to embrace different languages.

I used to think an internationally-minded person is an open minded person, period.

Now I think an internationally minded person has specific attributes such as 

Great communication skill,

open-mindedness

knowledgeable

caring 

principled 

can think deeply 

uses his or her curiosity and research skills to inquire about the world

thinks and reflects critically about opportunities and challenges

takes action for positive changes (for example, to promote intercultural understanding, foster caring relationships, to care for self and others)

takes risks to further self-development and understanding of others

Fostering the development of international-mindedness.

I used to think I am internationally-minded, but now I think I am not at the end point of that state, but still on a journey of defining, leaning, acting, reflecting of developing internationally-mindedness... 

I could mindfully practice

“reaching out”, to consider how we interact with others, 

and 

“reaching in”, to understand myself in relation to others.

I am in an awe of this realization, this week...

and oh boy... THE•WORKSHOP•IS•INTENSE! lol

Wish me luck...