The GlobalEd 2 Project: Interdisciplinary Simulations Promoting Students’ Socio-scientific Literacy

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional design approach designed to facilitate student learning in context-rich settings. GlobalEd2 (GE2) is a PBL curriculum intervention that combines face-to-face and online learning environments into a 14-week multi-player (N > 400) simulation of international negotiations among students in the roles of science delegates on global socio-scientific issues. Although GE2 focuses on science and written argumentation, it is implemented within social science classes that can span time zones, geographic and social boundaries while engaging 400+ middle-grade students in an authentically rich and engaging learning environment. This chapter describes the structural components that have made GE2 successful in promoting student learning across middle school grades, high school, college, and professional education. Further, the GE2 provides a multiyear set of data revealing GE2’s impact on students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs). Implications are discussed regarding the instructional framework that has enabled GE2 to successfully evolve over the past 15 years and the future plans for development.