Course Information

Official Meridian School District Course Description:

This online version of Global Perspectives is a fully accredited high school social studies/humanities course required for graduation in Meridian School District, Meridian Idaho. This class will provide a framework for analyzing current issues around the state, nation and world. This course will examine the political and cultural nature of our planet. It is divided into six units of study. The are as follows:

• Unit A: Global Geography
• Unit B: Global Wealth and Poverty
• Unit C: Global Governments and Groups
• Unit D: Global Religions and Culture
• Unit E: Idaho’s Global Connections
• Unit F: The Final Challenge

Students will use critical thinking skills to define problems, collect and analyze information and develop alternative solutions to complex issues. The course emphasis will be on global issues while also looking closely at the United States' policy relative to them.

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: “I have heard that on-line classes can be really hard compared to the classroom version. Is it?”
A: Here is how I can answer that question. Over 150 hours were put into writing the class during the spring and summer of 2002 in a concentrated effort to make the on-line version of Global Perspectives match up to the Meridian School Districts curriculum. Also another 60 hours of work was done on the course in the summer of 2005 to convert it to its current form that it resides in on the Meridian School Districts server. Lastly, the course is updated and adjusted each semester. The Meridian District mandated that the Global Perspectives online class met the same standards as the regular face-to-face Global Perspectives class had to meet. This also meant that some lessons had to be eliminated and others had to be revised from what is taught in a face-to-face classroom. This has made the on-line version a "lean and mean learning machine!!

Q: "How do I turn my lessons in?"
A: The Unit Lessons will be turned in by following the general directions given in the Turning in Work section of the course and specific instructions will also be clearly stated in each individual assignment. The "Final Examination" will be the District EOC Exam (End of Course Exam) given to you by a "proctor". The proctor will most likely be me!! This is explained in more detail by going to the Assignments section of the course and "clicking" on the Final Examination "link".

Q: "How is the class work graded?"
A: All of your work will be graded based on a 100 percentage point system. For example; if a Unit Lesson has two, opinion essay questions for you to complete then each question is worth 50 points for a total 100 points for that lesson. Unit Lessons will be worth 50% of your grade with the Course Project and the Final Examination worth 25% of your total grade, respectively.

Q: “Do I keep copies of my work?”
A: Yes, yes and, oh yea…….YES!! Keep backups of your work on your hard drive and a removable disk. This is your insurance of something going wrong in CYBERSPACE!!!

Q: "Do I have to do all the assignments in order?"
A: Follow the directions given to you in the Turning in Work section of the course.

Q: “ Some of the assignments to find a partner. Why?”
A: Since you are not in a traditional classroom, we designed some of your learning so that you could be involved with your fellow “classmates” You will need to go to the Class E-mail section of the Turning in Work page and e-mail someone and ask if they want to be your partner in the assignment

Q: “What if my computer goes south for the winter?”
A: Go with it. Just kidding. ha! ha! Remember you have access to the schools' computers in the library and other areas to complete your lessons in case your machine breaks or you have “tech” problems. You also have the option of coming and talking to your local cyber instructor (that’s us) if you have a prolonged and disturbing story to tell, but you better bring home made cookies if you are going to do that.

Q: “When is the "first" and "last" day of class?”
A: This class follows the Meridian School District semester schedule. There may be an extension due to problems in "cyberspace" but other than that please refer to the Turning in Work section of the course.

Q: “What if I have a question later?”
A: Contact your assigned teacher via email as explained on the Communications page.

Goals:

The “Goals” of this class are listed on this page. They are called “Enduring Understandings”. An enduring understanding is something that is timeless, universal and can cross all cultures. An enduring understanding should make sense. It should be obvious that it is a true statement. The Meridian School District has re-evaluated and re-written their entire kindergarten through twelve-grade curriculum to reflect what is called “Concept Based” education, which is based around students being able to comprehend enduring understandings.

At the beginning of each lesson you will find the enduring understandings that will be supported, explained and answered in each of the twenty-five assignments that you will do to successfully complete this class. These twenty-three goals and/or “Enduring Understandings”, for the Global Perspectives course, are as follows:

1. Natural resources can determine wealth and poverty.
2. Physical features divide the world.
3. Man-made boundaries divide the world.
4. Availability of quality education is often related to wealth and prosperity.
5. A nation's economic system reflects its wealth and/or poverty.
6. The quantity and types of natural resources often determine a nation's wealth.
7. Current events affect the world’s poverty and wealth.
8. Government policies and practices affect a nation's wealth and/or poverty.
9. Countries use economic and military might to control other nations.
10. Governments both restrict and expand individual freedoms.
11. A nations wealth or poverty is affected by its government and economic system
12. Events affect the world's governments and their policies.
13. Government’s types can change/evolve through time.
14. The establishment of governments is an attempt to create order in society.
15. There are some commonly held values shared by all people.
16. The world is culturally diverse.
17. Events and issues affect the world's philosophies, religions and cultures.
18. Philosophies and religions often impact governmental policies and decisions.
19. People have organized a variety of philosophical and religions beliefs.
20. People migrate and immigrate
21. Trade of goods and services is essential for a healthy economy.
22. Current issues/events affect Idaho's economic and people connections to the world.
23. Government and business/industries build relationships to promote trade.