Empowering Global Education: Achieving British Council ISA Awards with Generation Global

In today’s vibrant education landscape, fostering a global outlook has become more than just a trend—it’s necessary. Are you looking to infuse a global perspective into your curriculum and gain recognition for your efforts? The British Council’s International School Award (ISA) is the perfect opportunity to showcase your school’s commitment to international awareness. In this blog, we’ll dive into how Generation Global, a global citizenship education programme can be your partner on this journey. This blog explains the ISA award and its various components, provides real-life examples from educators who have successfully navigated the process using Generation Global resources, and offers tips and suggestions to effectively leverage the programme to pursue the ISA award.

About the British Council ISA award

The British Council International School Award (ISA) is a global accreditation that recognises good practices in incorporating the international dimension into schools. The process involves action planning, compiling evidence, and submitting an evaluation. Successful schools are accredited for three years. Schools must meet the specific requirements for the accreditation level they seek. Whether your school is just beginning or aiming for a particular accreditation level, Generation Global offers resources and materials to support you at every stage of your journey.

How Generation Global resources help you fulfill requirements at every accreditation level

At the Foundation level, where schools introduce internationalism, Generation Global’s video conferences are a perfect addition. Video conferences are 60-minute, live facilitated sessions for young people aged 13-17 to interact, connect, and dialogue with global peers on complex social issues. Educators can easily register their students for these conferences on topics aligning with the existing academic curriculum, connecting them with peers in foreign schools to fulfil the requirement of one international classroom activity.

Progressing to the Intermediate level involves demonstrating three curriculum-based international activities. Generation Global provides a wealth of topical resources on global issues like climate change, quality education, hate speech, and more available in the Generation Global Teacher Portal. These resources include interactive skill building activities, lesson plans, worksheets that can be easily integrated within the existing curriculum, thus supporting educators to enhance students’ understanding of diverse cultures and global issues, fostering essential life skills. Educators can use these resources along with the live international video conferencing opportunities for students to adapt their lesson plans to demonstrate evidence for curriculum based international activities.

At the Accreditation level, schools must engage in a yearlong planning process. As a part of this, schools can include a Generation Global international day linked dialogue event as one of the seven required curriculum-based international activities. In these dialogue events, participants are encouraged to think critically about how each global issue is relevant in their own lives and communities, identifying ways they can connect with their peers on these issues. They will apply the five core skills of dialogue (Global Communication, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Questioning, Reflection) in live interactions with peers from all over the world to explore personal experiences, perspectives, and the impacts of global issues. Some examples of these dialogue series include SDG Dialogue Series, My Freedom Day Dialogue Series, and Biodiversity Dialogues.

For schools aiming for Reaccreditation, they can direct their students to engage in the online dialogue spaces on global issues on the Generation Global student portal called the Ultimate Dialogue Adventure (UDA). The UDA is a gamified and fun online portal for young people, through which, they can earn badges and certificates, collect points to become “dialogue masters,” and learn how to apply dialogue in real life.

Furthermore, for the intermediate, accreditation, and reaccreditation levels, the eligibility criteria includes covering more than half of the school population. While video conferences are designated for learners aged 13-17, Generation Global’s free resources can be adapted for all age groups. This inclusivity helps meet participation criteria for ISA awards and maximizes student involvement across the school.

A Case Study in success: Vanee’s ISA journey with Generation Global

Vanee Gopalan, an arts and mass media teacher from Delhi Public School, Bangalore South, India, utilised Generation Global resources to win the ISA award for two consecutive terms. Her approach exemplifies the programme’s effectiveness in promoting international awareness among learners. She spearheaded various initiatives, including online video conferences on topics like religion and festivals. Through these online exchanges, students gained global exposure and a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity—an essential aspect of the ISA’s objectives. Ms. Gopalan aptly stated, ‘Every bit of such smaller steps helped us complete the big picture’.

Vanee utilised Generation Global resources in a three-step process:

• Select a relevant topic: Vanee begins by selecting a relevant topic linked with the unit of the subject she is teaching. She utilises the skill-building resources in the classroom to practice dialogue and communication skills with her students linked with a global issue.
• Preparing for online video conferencing: Vanee uses the guiding questions offered by Generation Global to stimulate critical thinking on the global issue, helping students prepare for the online video conference dialogues with their peers.
• Schedule an international video conference: Vanee books her students into one of the slots from the scheduled options listed in the Generation Global educator portal, which currently offers 3 to 4 slots available each weekday. The sessions begin with students responding to guiding questions. After sharing, students can ask questions to each other, and the session concludes with students reflecting on what they learned from the session.

Tips for aspiring educators

For educators aiming to integrate Generation Global into their ISA award journey, consider the following tips:

• Customise lesson plans: Educators can plan their year by reviewing the subject units and goals they want to achieve through Generation Global. Then, educators can select the dialogue skills and corresponding skill building activities. Finally, educators can choose a Generation Global topics that aligns with the subject units, to teach the skills through. Educators can adapt their existing lesson plans to include Generation Global skill building activities and resources.
• Monitor Video Conference schedules: Keep track of video conference schedules, typically posted at the start of every year. Early access allows you to secure desired slots for student participation, enhancing engagement and learning opportunities.
• Select Generation Global resources with corresponding award levels: Educators can target the award level they are aiming for and use the corresponding Generation Global resources to support their efforts.

Take the next step with Generation Global

Vanee Gopalan’s success with the ISA award is a testament to the power of integrating Generation Global into your curriculum. By following her example, you, too can enrich your students’ learning experiences and achieve international recognition.

Explore the free tools and resources Generation Global offers. Transform your school’s approach to global learning and inspire the next generation of global citizens. To know more visit the Generation Global website. Or have questions about implementing Generation Global? Reach out to us at helpdesk@generation.global.

Appendix: Award Levels and Requirements

Foundation level

• Application requirements:
  • At least one curriculum-based international activity enhancing student’s understanding of other countries, cultures and global issues.
• Generation Global resource to be used: Generation Global video conferences

Intermediate level

• Application requirements:
  • Schools must show three curriculum-based international activities.
  • One activity must involve a foreign partner.
  • At least half the students must be impacted.
• Generation Global resource to be used: Topical resources on global issues

Accreditation level

• Application requirements:
  • Schools must submit a plan to complete over the school year. It must include:
    • Seven curriculum-based international activities,
    • One activity must contain a foreign language element, connected to learning about the culture of another country.
    • Must include cultural exchange elements
    • Activities spread throughout the school year and cover various subjects
    • Majority of students across different age ranges must participate
• Generation Global resource to be used: Sign up learners for dialogue series: SDG Dialogue Series, My Freedom Day Dialogue Series, Biodiversity Dialogues and many more

Re-accreditation level

• Application requirements:
  • Seven curriculum-based international activities
  • Three activities in partnership with schools in other countries
  • One activity must contain foreign language learning, connected to the learning about the culture of another country,
  • Must include cultural exchange elements
  • Activities spread throughout the school year and various subjects
  • Students across different age ranges must participate
  • Schools should act as ambassadors, sharing knowledge and skills on internationalism and helping to up-skill others
• Generation Global resource to be used: Engage in online dialogue spaces in the UDA