Effects of Globalization in Education - Report Example

Effects of Globalization in Education Name Tutor Course Effects of Globalization in Education Introduction Globalization is a process that has affected several areas of human life. One of the areas that have been greatly affected by globalization is education. Many developing nations in twentieth century have experienced development in available educational facilities due to introduction of institutions from the west. Globalization of education, that is, transfer of knowledge from western nations into developing nations, is usually intended to develop the skills and abilities of individuals receiving it. Education is going through steady changes under effects of globalization. The impacts of globalization have brought about rapid growth in technology and communications. Internationalization of education can be associated with various internal and external changes within the global system. Effects of globalization on education According to Ball & Goodson (2007), globalization has a great effect on modern education. It has caused many changes in school systems across the world. Ideas, values and knowledge brought about by globalization changes the roles of students and teachers across the world. Globalization also produces a shift in society from industrialization towards information-based society. It usually reflects impact on culture and causes a modern form of cultural imperialism. The increased global society controlled by technology and communication improvements is currently shaping the children into international and intelligent individuals with a wide range of skills and knowledge to apply in a competitive and information based society. The future of any nation always lies in its ability to compete within an international market in which industrial based economies are paving way for knowledge based industries. Education is becoming long term learning and training process, thus enhancing transferable skills and understanding that can be used in competitive markets in which knowledge and information are being traded like commodities (Spring, 2008). Establishing technology in classrooms is changing the way of delivering education to students. Introduction of technology in classrooms is steadily providing way to a modern form of electronic literacy. A lot of programs and education materials are being made available in electronic form due to globalization. Materials prepared by teachers are currently in electronic form. Students on the other hand are producing assignments, papers and projects in electronic from. Globalization has led to the coming up of electronic gadgets such as video projection screens, books that have storage servers and CD ROMS plus introduction of on-line digital libraries, to replace blackboards. Exams and grades are also currently becoming available via electronic means. Notebooks have paved way for laptops. With globalization, Students can be tested via computer controlled learning systems. The students can also do tutorial on computer instead of a classroom. These kinds of developments in education show that there has been a change from industrialization to information-based societies. Globalization therefore has improved educational surroundings towards reliance upon electronic sources in delivering material (Ball & Goodson, 2007). Due to these changes and establishment of video conferencing and internet, distance barriers have been broken down at a faster rate due to globalization. This therefore implies that kids and mature individuals can learn in several ways and they no longer need to be present physically in any education institution to acquire education. Globalization permits exploration of modern areas of learning and thinking. The rapid television services development, with their huge influence, has been useful in technological change brought about by globalization. Transistor and space satellites have also greatly influenced technological changes. These in turn have improved the education systems in many nations (Spring, 2008). Chan (2002) argues that for many years, internet has been the communication and information based technology. Internet is a huge network of computers that are located across the world. These computers can maintain libraries of information, pictures, computer software and other types of data that can be accessed by anybody, at any place, at any given time. For this technology and communication establishment to be successful and to be capable of educating a society, students and teachers should be technologically literate. Communication technology provides latest challenges to students of all abilities. The students are able to discuss concerned issues with their colleagues across the world, thus enhancing communication and interpersonal skills and developing a mutual understanding among nations and cultures (Chan, 2002). Growth in education delivery is permitting individuals to explore modern areas of learning and thinking that cannot be done by pen and paper. Knowledge can be discovered via inquiry and experimentation instead of memorizing facts in a dominated classroom setting of a teacher. There is no need for students to be physically present to learn since education materials are readily available in the internet, via video conferencing and tape recordings. Institutions are currently changing into internet usage in delivering of courses to students. Globalization has greatly changed education in a way that more responsibility has been placed on students rather than solely on teacher. Teachers need to up date themselves with technology. This makes them to be more competent and confident when preparing their students for international information society. Global education need to teach about international matters. It also needs to teach about consistent systems on environmental, cultural, political, economical and technological basis such as globalization programs that draws on professionals in several areas such as humanities, environmental science and social science. Globalization and technological developments are offering and enhancing access to the globe (Stromquist & Monkman, 2000). Technology and communication has created in human life two class of people, the haves and have nots. This has resulted into a bifurcated society, that is, those who are capable of affording the information technology and those who are not able. Globalization has also caused this kind of scenario. In western societies, educations institutions are embracing technology, while in developing nation technology is not advanced. Developing nations are still weak and delicate in implementing the development programs of education. These nations are facing serious disadvantages in offering basic services. Inadequate infrastructure and funding in developing nations makes it hard to adopt any technological and communication developments. Corporatization of education, a major consequence of globalization, functions on principles of cost minimization and profit maximization. These require introduction of standardization and product’s packaging in compact, byte-like, measurable and configuration. In education, the approach negates its fundamental fabric and purpose. Education has often been encouraged and represented openness, diversity, research, inquiry and limitless learning. The spread of education globally due to globalization has great effects on cultures internationally. Capitalist society is steadily becoming international with a strong stress on free trade coming up. Educational institutions have responded to globalization by becoming more market oriented and concentrating more on developing funds instead of offering adequate education for students. Education is constantly being drawn in international capitalist competition due to enhanced free trade across the world. Globalization of education, particularly in higher education, is a developing phenomenon. Colleges and universities across the world are being forced to compete within international capitalist market and engaging in entrepreneurial activity in sustaining themselves in an enhanced uncertain world. According to Stromquist and Monkman (2000), international changes in culture greatly affect educational practices, policies and institutions. In advanced industrial societies, globalization presents a basically different kind of challenge to education. Education in a global world has widened the outline of community past the family, region or nation. Currently potential affiliation’s communities are multiple, displaces, provisional and constantly changing. Schools nowadays confront several conflicting and transforming, ad hoc expectations that are directed to unexpected option paths of advancement. This therefore implies that education, due to globalization, is aiming more on flexibility and adaptability. Under the existing international forces, institution of higher education across the world is subjected to global trends. Universities currently are facing more problems than ever before. The increase in globalized knowledge-based economy has caused universities in several nations under closer scrutiny for economic contributions. Governments are particularly concerned that colleges serve nationwide interests within the global market place. The commodification of understanding as scholarly property has happened particularly with respect to linking intellectual universities’ work with community, organization and government interests and precedence. This tendency can result into tensions among more profitable applied subjects of science and technology and the fundamental theoretical enquiry. It also develops institutional losers and gainers (Stromquist & Monkman, 2000). Under the effect of globalizing market forces, there has been a common trend towards minimization of per capita funding to advanced education, at a period in which the system is still growing at the beginning and life-long learning levels. The connection of performance with allocation of funds has resulted into intense competition in the universities. The move towards privatization of higher education is also associated with this. Tensions among educational and commercial based subject have been increasing. The modern globalization of higher education is chiefly motivated by profits. The goal is always to meet demand of the market and to develop a market for several educational products. Regulation’s issue of providers can arise due to substantial development in global market. Regulation of trade within academic institutions, programs, levels or products across global borders, is usually hard. Inadequate regulation is a major problem in globalization of higher education (Chan, 2002). Conclusion From the discussion, it is clear that globalization has had several obvious impacts on educational technology and communications system. Globalization changes the way education is being delivered plus roles played by teachers and students. Ideas, values and knowledge brought about by globalization changes the roles of students and teachers across the world. The enhancement of technology is assisting the change from industrial based society to informal based one. Similarly, globalization has negative effects. Globalization causes inequality in income among nations, that is, as rich nations become richer the poor nations on the other hand become poorer. The gap between the rich and poor nations is big due to globalization. Economic problems, imbalances in trade and structural changes have precipitated ethical crisis in several nations, tearing the fundamental social and cultural fabric of several families and communities apart, thus resulting in enhancing youth unemployment, violence, drug abuse and racism. Education in twenty first century faced double challenge of equipping students with latest knowledge, values and skills required to be competitive in international market. International changes in culture greatly affect educational practices, policies and institutions. Bibliography Ball S. J. & Goodson I. (2007). Education, Globalization and New Times. London: Taylor & Francis. Spring, J. H. (2008). Globalization of education: an introduction. London: Taylor & Francis, 2008 Chan, D. K. (2002). Globalization and education: the quest for quality education in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. Stromquist N. P. & Monkman K. (2000). Globalization and education: integration and contestation across cultures. Melbourne: Rowman & Littlefield. . Read More