Global Awareness Program series ...GAPs (forthcoming summer 2010)
GAP series books are organized into five categories:
1. history and social studies
2. books for educators
3. global issues
4. cross-cultural topics
5. English as a Second Language (ESL).
About
GAPs ...
the series consists of engaging short readers of about 50-200 pages and the
book-length survey Waves of Global Change: A Holistic World History.
The GAPs approach ...
The GAPs curriculum is thoughtfully designed for
educators and students who wish to develop a holistic, alternative approach. Educators will find this curriculum especially
helpful in teaching about current events, cross-cultural topics, holistic
world history, and globalizing their curriculum. Students will find this
approach links topics such as history to their everyday lives in a
meaningful way.
The curriculum is for ,,, educators, students in grades 9-12, college undergraduates, and the general reading public.
What is
included?
The series has teacher resources
guides, activities, and student workbooks.
GAPS
author...
is educator Dr. Denise R. Ames, draws upon her extension teaching
experience, a global perspective, and careful research
in developing this alternative, systems-thinking approach to global
issues, history, and cross-cultural topics.
When will the
GAPs be available?
The target completion date for Waves of Global Change: A Holistic
World History, the first book in the series, and the teacher resources guide is
summer 2010.
What is the cost?
Prices for the books will be very reasonable, please contact Denise Ames for more information.
Any questions or comments about the Global Awareness Program series (GAPs) are welcome, just click the contact icon.
Welcome to
the Global Awareness Program series
GAPs ...
fills in the "gaps" of a traditional educational curriculum
After many years in the making, the Center for Global Awareness is proudly launching in summer 2010 the first book in a new and timely educational book series called The Global Awareness Program series or GAPs.
The mission of GAPs is to provide a globally-focused and culturally-enhanced alternative educational program that uses 21st century skills and challenges conventional thinking. It has been conscientiously designed to fill in the “gaps” of a traditional educational curriculum.
This thought-provoking book series offers a standards-based, experiential curriculum that systematically explores a range of critical global issues, interesting cross-cultural topics, and a holistic approach to world history. The intended audience includes high school and undergraduate college students, educators, and the interested general public. The books range from short readers (50-200 pages) to a world history survey. Each book has a complete teacher’s guide and on-line resources.
The GAP series books are organized into five categories: history, books for educators, global issues, cross-cultural topics, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
1. History/Social Studies Related Books
a. Waves of Global Change: A Holistic World History
(click here for more information on Waves of Global Change)
In this book world history is an interconnected, interdisciplinary system in which all the economic, cultural, environmental, political and social parts dynamically interact. The overarching development of humans through time and space is organized into five major human transformations called waves -- critical turning points of the past that mark significant patterns of change in the historical process.
This general world history survey offers a unique approach to world history and is the cornerstone book in the series. The book is 8 chapters long and consists of 151,500 words plus preface, glossary, endnotes, index, and bibliography. World history is a required course in most secondary schools and colleges and this book is geared to that audience. The book is a survey of world history, not a weighty, authoritative textbook. The key feature of the book is it offers a unique, holistic, interdisciplinary, “big picture” approach to world history.
b. Six chapters in Waves of Global Change are planned to be developed into stand alone books of approximately 50-200 pages. These books will expand upon the individual chapters in Waves of Global Change. Educators or students may select the individual books to supplement the Waves of Global Change world history survey
· Human Commonalities: Our Collective Story
This book examines the theme of commonality and diversity that informs this holistic world history. In this book a human commonalities model is developed in which human across time and place are seen as fundamentally the same. It also explores the cultural diversity theme. This commonalities model provides the foundation for the holistic world history.
· The Communal Wave: People as Nomadic Foragers
In this book people gather/hunt or forage for food and live together in small communal, nomadic bands bound together through strong kinship ties. This wave encompasses the emergence of modern humans around 40,000 years ago and continues today with very small numbers still practicing, although in an altered form, a foraging way of life. Several case studies of contemporary foraging bands of people are examined including the !Kung in Southwestern Africa, Mbuti in central Africa, and two more groups.
· The Agriculture Wave: People as Village Farmers
In this book people change from foraging for food to agricultural food production and a sedentary, village way of life. People begin to make this change in some, but not all, areas of the world beginning approximately 10,000 BCE. This transition also occurs at later time periods whenever a group begins to adopt an agricultural way of life. Some people today continue to live in small villages and retain some Agricultural Wave characteristics similar to earlier people. Several case studies of historical and contemporary agricultural people are examined: Catal Huyak, people who lived from 7500 BCE to 5700 BCE in present day Turkey and occupied the largest and best preserved Neolithic site found to date, Cahokia, people who lived in southwester Illinois (present-day United States from 650–1400 CE, and three other contemporary groups.
· The Urban Wave: People Create Civilizations
This book traces the beginning of civilization in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE, where groups of people evolved out of sedentary agricultural villages to develop more populous and complex urban societies. The Urban Wave marks a transition to what we call civilization and all its accompanying characteristics. The Urban Wave is further organized into three distinct historical eras of civilization: ancient civilizations (3500 to 1000 BCE), classical civilizations (1000 BCE to 500 CE), and post-classical civilizations (500 to 1500 CE). Case studies of different civilizations and civilizational themes are highlighted in each era. Some people in the world today continue to practice conventions that are characteristic of the Urban Wave, especially its religious traditions.
· The Modern Wave: People Multiply and Dominate the Globe
In this book examines the Modern Wave that emerges around 1500 CE. At this time some Western European countries rise to prominence, beginning with the conquest of the Western hemisphere and followed by interaction with and subjugation of societies throughout the world. The Modern Wave is organized into three distinct eras: the early modern era (1500-1750), the modern era (1750-1900) and the 20th Century. Different modern developments such as capitalism, modern political movements, the scientific revolution, technological innovations, warfare, and modern social and cultural changes are highlighted in each era. Modern characteristics, shaped largely by Western Europeans, diffused around the world after 1500.
· The Global Wave: People Creating a Future (see below)
c. The United States in the World: A Global Perspective
This proposed book will examine the major events in the world and place the history of the United States within the context of these world events.
2. Books for Educators
These books are written for educators and related professionals in the field
of education with a focus on developing a more global perspective and a
holistic world history.
a. Waves of Global Change: A Holistic World History Educator’s Handbook
Although this book accompanies the survey Waves of Global Change, it can also be a useful handbook for those involved in world history education. It is a good resource book for pre-service social studies students. It includes organizational ideas, a systems thinking approach, an analysis of worldviews, it also includes assessment suggestions, and other innovative ideas. It includes on-line resources.
b. Global Awareness for Educators: A Systems Approach
This timely book for educators describes ways to implement global awareness into educational curricula. It focuses on five dimensions for global awareness: a consciousness of and appreciation for other views of the world, understanding the world as a system, enhancing cross-cultural awareness of the diversity of ideas, practices, customs, beliefs, and history found in human societies across time and space, learning about the way the world works through a study of critical global issues and their impact on our global community, and recognition that as humans we have the capacity to choose our present direction and shape the future we wish to have. Several chapters are devoted to examining 10 significant global issues as seen through the five worldviews,
3. Global Issues Books
These timely and engaging books are in the process of research and some are
close to completion. They include the following tentative titles:
a. The Global Wave: People Creating a Future
Using a systems approach, this book describes the Global Wave, developments that are currently occurring across the world. Humans in this wave are creating a myriad of technological wonders, environmental catastrophes, cross-cultural encounters, and debating solutions to a host of global problems. This wave, still in formation, is rocked by a range of worldviews that contend with each other for primacy on the world stage. The significant global issues of our time are examined, and how these issues are viewed by people holding diverse worldviews is presented.
b. The Global Economy: Piecing Together the Puzzle
This book examines pieces together the complex puzzle of our global economy. Making connections among the puzzle pieces gives us a better picture of the complex, interdependent global economy.
c. Rethinking our Food System: The Interconnections of the Global Economics, Food, and Sustainability
A sustainable future depends upon the rethinking of the global economic system and the way food is produced and consumed. This book identifies key areas of change needed in our global economy as it relates to food production in order for a sustainable system to be implemented. Using case studies from Mexico, Iran, the U.S., and other areas around the world, this important topic is a must for students to study today.
d. Making Connections: Global Sustainability, Growth and our Future
This timely book connects the contradictory issues of sustainability and our present strategy of unlimited economic growth. Are the two compatible? How can the two be reconciled?
e. Human
Rights
Human Rights is an important global issues today. This book examines a number of historical case studies of human rights and links them to contemporary issues. It also investigates human rights for women, indigenous peoples, minorities, and others. The book suggests reasons for human rights abuses in the past and present and encourages students to devise ways human rights abuses can be mitigated today. The book also helps students with their geography and cross-cultural skills as they explore issues around the world.
f. Media Literacy
g. Global Consumerism and its Impact
Our American way of life is predicated upon consumerism as a deeply held, unquestioned value and practice. This consumer culture is now exported and promoted around the world as the unsustainable model for future development. Constructive strategies are suggested to non-judgmentally present this issue to our students, so that they can be more aware about their consumer choices.
h. Creating Sustainable Alternatives: Ideas and Solutions
Overwhelming changes wrenching our world today affect all of our daily lives. Instead of the prevailing mainstream way of life we take a look at sustainable alternatives from a systems perspective. These viable alternatives to economic globalization can possibly help create a more just and sustainable future.
i. Population Pressures
This book will examine the critical issue of population pressures on a finite world. What is the maximum population number that our world can support? Does our consumption level affect how many people the world can support? Students will look at the population pressures in countries such as Bangladesh, the African Sahel, and developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and select European nations.
j. Water: A Finite Resource with Infinite Demand
h. Terrorism: Global Conflict Today
The horrific wars of the 20th century and the Cold War are no longer the types of conflict that will be experienced in the 21st century. What kinds of conflict are the world’s people experiencing today and into the future? We will first define terrorism and look at the reasons for its rise. We will pose and attempt to answer the question “Is global terrorism a real threat?” We will look at case studies of global terrorism and examination their causes. What solutions are being proposed to counter global terrorism?
4. Cross-Cultural Awareness Books
These timely and engaging books are in the process of research and some are
close to completion. They include the following tentative titles:
a. Understanding China: Cracking the Wall
b. Understanding Iran: Lifting the Veil
c. Southeast Asia:
5. English as a Second Language
check back for forthcoming details