Flat Classroom Project

Some effects of globalization: The United States is the center of globalization trends – we drive most of the world’s economy, influence international policy, and financial transactions. The prime paradigm is capitalism – a faithful reliance on the market to drive decisions. Global forces like the World Bank promote decentralization and privatization.  Governments get out of the way, leave services to private groups. Inherent in capitalism is an unequal distribution of wealth. Having wealth generates more wealth, having no resources leaves countries at a severe disadvantage. Technology is one kind of resource and wealth. Countries that have technology, use it to develop new products, markets, ideas… and financial power.

What are globalization effects on Education (in the U.S.) Heightened competition between nations to develop an educated labor force; nations need a competitive niche. Education is seen as a mechanical process – develop basic skills, technical skills, competitive skills. Movements like standards and testing develop from this view of education. The cultural philosophy of capitalism, decentralization, and privatization manifest in strategies such as independent schools, charter schools, and vouchers. Higher education (colleges and universities) are more closely tied to the private sector – it is a necessary reality. Technology is seen as a key area for education, but how is technology important? View 1 -People trained directly in the hard sciences and technology fields contribute to those lucrative markets. View 2 – Information technologies impact how people work, play, gain information, and participate in communities. Those who can use IT to further their own aims win out, those without access or skills lose out in the new world.

Globalization and the State-Education Relationship

educational terms,

evaluation, financing, assessment, standards, teacher training, curriculum, instruction, and testing

Under the Settlement, Google will establish an $8.5 million Common Fund to fund organizations focused on Internet privacy policy or privacy education, as well as to cover lawyers’ fees and costs and other expenses. Google will also do more to educate users about the privacy aspects of Google Buzz. Since the inception of this litigation, Google has also made changes to Google Buzz that clarify its operation and users' options, including, in particular, changes regarding user information and control over Buzz's privacy settings.

The younger the person, the more likely they wake up to an alarm on their cell phone and not a radio.

At least half of the folks in the groups in multple cities I witnessed reported using the cell phone as their sole wake up device.