Best Global and Cross-Cultural Education Apps and Websites
Use these global perspective and cross-cultural education tools to raise the stakes of learning, creating authentic learning opportunities that build empathy and broaden students' perspectives. Through the study of other places and cultures, students can even better understand their own culture (and biases and privileges). They can explore the similarities and differences among people, and the shared global challenges -- like climate change and inequality -- that require global, cross-cultural collaboration and deep empathy. These picks will help students build these skills. Students will also grasp how big -- and small -- the world really is, and that it's full of discoveries to make and problems to solve.
Great stories, just-right leveled reading; now mostly by subscription
Bottom Line: Up-to-date, high-interest articles will meet students right at their level, and help teachers bolster students' nonfiction reading skills.
Empowering sustainable development app organizes, educates
Bottom Line: It's a well-packaged way for teachers to educate students about the current challenges facing the world and to give them a conduit for social justice.
Point-and-click story shares Native perspectives on forced migration
Bottom Line: Offers a valuable alternative perspective to the colonial history found in U.S. classrooms, through a familiar, Oregon Trail-style format.
Globally minded materials spotlight the wisdom of resilient cultures
Bottom Line: This is a valuable resource, with perspectives often kept out of curricula, but it'll require a motivated teacher to turn it into actual lesson plans.
Interactive animated charts explore global development trends
Bottom Line: Gapminder brings meaning to what otherwise might be considered “boring” numbers; students learn about social, economic, and environmental development.
Engage with passionate international perspectives from youth
Bottom Line: Offers a rich variety of news and opinion stories on global issues, and its young writers will get U.S. students hooked on civic engagement.
Global community helps young writers write, revise, think, and grow
Bottom Line: With interest-based writing prompts and thoughtful feedback from peers and pros, this is a great tool for writing for authentic audiences.
Moving portrayal of the dangers and uncertainty of a Syrian refugee
Bottom Line: It effectively connects students with the harrowing journey of a Syrian refugee, even though some of the interactive elements are underwhelming.
Captivating, cross-curricular stories increase cultural awareness
Bottom Line: Teachers looking to enrich their curriculum with high-quality, thought-provoking videos and photos will find plenty of inspiration, but may need to create or fine-tune some lessons.
Complex global-influence game in which players’ choices rule the world
Bottom Line: Complex multi-issue game succeeds in teaching world politics and global development while building perspective and decision-making skills.
Deep, complex database is challenging but a peerless research tool
Bottom Line: This is a highly academic site for better and for worse; it's filled with deep, research-backed resources and primary sources but is intimidating without clear guidance.
