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| Reviewed: |
Jul 06, 2009 by Business Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The material is located in an Issue Brief on the Globalization101.0rg web site. Globalization101.orgs about us link describes the following objective: Globalization101.org is an Internet resource offered by the Levin Institute to promote a greater understanding of globalization. The Levin Institute is associated with the State University of New York.
Globalization101.org contains substantial resources for sharing and expanding the knowledge base with respect to globalization. Among the resources are 13 Issue Briefs that explain the fundamental issues and current controversies related to globalization. They offer in-depth discussions of the problems and policy decisions facing citizens, governments, international institutions, and non-governmental organizations in the interconnected world economy and society. The Issue Brief entitled Health and Globalization Introduction is a richly detailed report that critically examines the link between globalization and international public health. |
| Learning Goals: |
The Issue Brief presents the following learning objective.
Learn how globalization influences peoples health.
The introduction to the Issue Brief explains that this objective is explored via emphasis on the following two topics.
How globalization is promoting both the rapid spread and the effective treatment of highly contagious diseases.
The growing debate over the use and future of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). |
| Target Student Population: |
Undergraduate or graduate students who are studying issues related to globalization. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
None. |
| Type of Material: |
Reference Material |
| Recommended Uses: |
The material could be used as a supporting reference/resource in business & management courses that specifically address the subject of globalization. It would be particularly relevant for health care management courses and curricula. General education courses that focus on issues related to globalization also would benefit.
The Issue Brief contains discussion questions that encourage students to explore and debate the subject matter. These questions could form the basis for in-class discussion, online class discussion, or individual written assignments. |
| Technical Requirements: |
The Issue Brief can be downloaded as a PDF file for which Adobe Acrobat Reader is required. Note that other links on the Globalization101.org web site (e.g., For Teachers) present videos for which a standard plug-in might be required (e.g., Windows Media Player). |
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| Strengths: |
The Issue Brief is well-researched and well-written. It is aimed to educate and to engender questions and debate in an area of international significance. It would put students in touch with a rich array of references while also substantially heightening their awareness with respect to the significant impact of globalization in the area of international health. |
| Concerns: |
Instructors should be sure to develop an assignment that explicitly directs students with respect to the use of the material.
The Issue Brief references current resources but could become dated. Presumably the Brief will be updated on an ongoing basis (the web site appears to be actively updated), but instructors should double-check to be sure that the brief covers the most current issues in global health. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
The material is presented with embedded learning objectives. The Brief starts with an overview of health and globalization and subsequently addresses a range of contemporary topics (e.g., infectious diseases, global disease vs. globalization disease). Discussion questions appear at various points in the Brief, thus engaging the reader (i.e., student) and prompting more in-depth consideration of the issues. |
| Concerns: |
The Issue Brief is a 41-page document that covers a fairly broad range of important topics. In developing assignments or class activities, instructors will need to take the length of the document into account. Depending upon a particular instructors objectives, it may be productive to focus on only one or two elements of the document. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The Issue Brief is professionally presented with a visually appealing format that incorporates multi-color charts, tables, highlighting, embedded pictures, web links, and pop-up definitions that appear when the reader mouses over key terms. The Brief may be read from the web page or may be downloaded as a PDF document. |
| Concerns: |
The HTML version has very minimal navigation ("next page" only." This makes it quite awkward to move around the document, something that students assigned this material might easily want/need to do. The PDF file, fortunately, makes up for the shortcomings of the HTML presentation.
Though the left column offers some more advanced navigation options (to surf through the headings and subheadings) this is not immediately obvious, especially to the first tim euser. Maybe a heading over the left column: "Contents of this Issue Brief" or something similar, would add clarity. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
Excellent supporting material for courses that address globalization...current, research-based, and presented with an eye toward engaging the student. |
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