Abstract Many K-12 students today have not developed the skills they need for success in the "Globalization 3.0" era in terms of mastery of foreign languages, cultural awareness, proficiency in world geography, and knowledge of current global events, as well as "soft skills" like problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy, and effectively communicating with others who may not share their points of view. In addition to the new global competition faced by our students, the rapid...

Abstract Content standards have a significant impact on the classroom as they provide a foundation on which teachers base their instruction and ensure a uniform experience in similar grade levels and settings (Ravitch, 1995; McMannon, 1997). In the field of social studies, standards not only identify the knowledge deemed worthy of consideration, they also suggest additonal desired student outcomes such as the development of agency and civic-mindedness (Ornstein, 1982). This subject area has...