Globalization Is A Good Thing

Globalization is defined as the increasingly interconnected and interdependent nature of communication systems, economies, cultures and politics of contemporary societies. The world has never been closer than it is today. Through the avenues of Internet, electronic communication, mass media and international businesses, the world seems to be getting smaller and different cultures closer every single day. Opinions on this phenomenon of a “global culture” differ vastly. Some view this interconnectivity as a positive, inspiring testament to human cooperation and goodwill. Others view this as an attack on international culture and an attempt to Westernize other countries. So which is it? Is a global culture a good or a bad thing?

Globalization is extremely beneficial for the global economy. Explains Michael Spence, Asian countries have been steadily modernizing and thus raising their standard of living.

Fostering the human capital in these countries has allowed them to create the  infrastructure, technology and education systems needed for economic expansion. Spence says these principles which started with Japan and are now catching on in more Asian nations, most notably in India, South America and even Africa and will continue to do so for the next 50 years or so.

Globalization has helped these countries to grow and advance in many different ways: economically, technologically, academically, etc. Economically, it is necessary for nations to mix their markets together because most nations operate interdependently. The bankruptcy of one nation would severely affect the economic situation of another. However, do these economic benefits outweigh the cultural costs?

This homogeneity of nations has caused the question tobe posed: would a single global culture result in a better world? In the poll, 73% of voters said no. Some rationalized that culture is a tradition and should be preserved. Others rationalized that lack of diversity would result in absolute chaos – a world akin to a dystopian science fiction novel. However, the 27% in favor of a global culture had one prominent argument in favor of globalization: it would make things much easier. Can ease and efficiency really justify the eradication of diverse cultures? Most would say no. However, does having a McDonald’s down the road really matter that much?

Ultimately, I believe that globalization is inescapable. Nations have become so interconnected that the loss of one would drastically affect the functionality of another. I believe that the interdependence of nations has improved the quality of life and economic stability of countries. Rather than actively resist the influence of global culture, perhaps we should instead embrace it. The preservation of diverse culture is, of course, extremely important. However, the concept of a world united under certain values has its share of benefits as well.

Online and In Class

We are all familiar with what  is considered the “traditional” classroom setting – teacher stands in the front of the room lecturing the class about the knowledge he has accumulated over the years, occasionally writing on the chalk board behind him. The class silently and obediently writes down everything they are told in a notebook. This is the system that has been continuously rehashed for years. However, technology has done what it does best – innovated. Through technology, a new doorway has been opened for a different type of classroom setting in which the class takes place partially or even entirely online. Students can now have access to the wealth of information available on the internet while simultaneously learning about the subject of their search directly from their teacher. This may sound like a dream come true, but like all new things, this new kind of class has its naysayers. Many people maintain that the presence of technology in the classroom is detrimental to the students’ learning experience. Others claim that the schools who continue to ban technology from classrooms are causing more harm than good by eliminating the world’s largest source of information from their academic experiences. So which side is right? Is technology good or bad for the classroom?

An oft recited saying is, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” The same could be said for traditional classrooms, couldn’t it? This is the system that America has followed for years and we’ve gotten along just fine. So why change it? According to Stacey Roshan, an AP Calculas teacher at Bullis School, the traditional education system didn’t work too well to begin with. Roshan explains that for her first three years of teaching at Bullis, her students were easily confused by the complex mathematics that she taught in lecture form. “[The students] often left class with more questions than answers.” However, Roshan implemented technology into her class and the results were extremely significant. Roshan began uploading her lectures to iTunes and assigned them as homework for her students. When in class, Roshan would devote class time to work on problems. As a result, the test results of her students greatly increased. An average of 3.59 out of 5 was recorded for her class taught in the traditional way. For her new class format, the average was 4.11. Technology was instrumental in increasing the good performance of these students. However, the involvement of technology took place outside of the classroom. What are the effects of bringing technology into the classroom?

There is an increasing trend of students who bring their laptop to class instead of traditional pen and paper. Computers can be faster, more efficient, and the information from the internet can do much to facilitate your understanding of a particular subject. However, sometimes the call of the vast digital world that lies within the internet pulls you somewhere far beyond the lesson at hand. There is always that subtle urge to check Facebook, update Twitter, look at artsy pictures on Instagram. Explains John Dodig of The College Voice:

Our generation is wired and well connected – that’s not a bad thing. But we’re creeping toward a point where college life is more about being social and less about being intellectually engaged. The whole point of having a laptop in class should be to expand scholarship and increase efficiency, but I’ve found that they’re having the opposite effect. Strangely enough, classes have become something to be tolerated rather than the reason we’re here.

Dodig brings up a good point here. Are laptops actually helping students? It is not implausible to think of laptops as a sort of barrier between the student and the teacher. With a screen separating them, how can students possibly engage themselves into the lesson?
 

According to a study by the PewInternet and American Life Project, the answer is, “Quite easily.” The study found that 79% of college Internet users believe the Internet has improved their college academic experience. 73% use the Internet more than the library for research. 72% check their email every day. 60% believe the internet has improved their relationship with classmates, 56% believe it has improved relations with professors. 46% say that emails allow them to express themselves to their professors in ways they could not – or would not – have done in class. It is clear that the majority of the students tested are in favor of Internet presence in their learning experience.

Opinions on the presence of the digital world in the classroom are extremely divided. Some strongly advocate its presence, some protest against it. Ultimately, I think that it should be the students' decision whether they have their laptops in the classroom. Technology offers many opportunities for information, entertainment, and communication and it is up to the user to utilize these resources responsibly. If the user decides to take advantage of these opportunities, that will be reflected in their GPA. But those who can and would use the Internet appropriately for their classes should have the right to do so.