How to teach international inequalities without making students feeling powerless, but rather with an understanding of the world they live in? At the Grammar School Gymnázium Moravské Budějovice, a secondary school in the Czech Republic, teachers addressed this challenge using a set of Teaching and Learning Units (TLUs) from our project. Their experience demonstrated that even complex global topics can develop key skills for students’ futures and lead to a deeper interest in current events. “The topic is difficult, but the game is memorable,” says Alena Janáčková from Moravské Budějovice about teaching global inequalities.
Thinking about the world in context, understanding global processes, and knowing how to ask questions are among the key competencies of today’s young generation. It was precisely these skills that students at the Grammar School Moravské Budějovice developed while learning about international inequalities. The TLUs, designed and tested by professional educators, allowed them to view inequality not merely as a problem, but primarily as a subject that can be understood and that helps students better navigate the contemporary world.
The teachers who incorporated the GET resources into their classes appreciate their methodological thoroughness and clarity. This allowed them to focus primarily on working with the students and creating a safe space for discussion.
“I had no concerns. The material was very well explained and built upon my previous experience, so I was actually looking forward to teaching it,” says Alena Janáčková, History and German Language teacher.
Ilona Lovicarová, Civic Education and Czech Language teacher, describes a similar experience, having used the materials as a natural extension of her social sciences classes. “The GET resources expanded the possibilities for introducing international inequalities to students. Thanks to the illustrative activities, the topic is much more easier to understand than in a traditional lecture,” she says.
A strong point of the lesson set on international inequalities is the activity-based and experiential form of teaching. A simulation game and other activities managed to engage all students, creating a shared experience they could return to in subsequent lessons.
“I appreciated the connection between content and form in the game. It engaged all the students and allowed them to truly understand the topic,” describes Janáčková.
Although preparing the activities was more demanding from an organizational standpoint, the teachers agree that the well-prepared material ultimately saves them time and energy. “I really value having a prepared activity so I can focus mainly on managing the class. That’s exactly how it worked here,” she adds.
Teaching with the GET TLUs also positively reflected in student engagement and thinking. Thanks to the diverse forms of work, their interest in the topic and their ability to think in broader contexts gradually increased.
“It was evident that students recall specific moments from the game and are able to relate them to current global problems,” confirms Ilona Lovicarová, Civic Education and Czech Language teacher.
The students returned to the situations they had experienced, were able to describe them in their own words, and connected them with historical and contemporary events. The topic thus became understandable, memorable, and meaningful.
The experience at the Grammar School in Moravské Budějovice shows that teaching international inequalities can be not only informative but also empowering. Students do not walk away with a sense of helplessness, but with a deeper understanding of the world and the ability to navigate its complexity.
“The topic is difficult, but the game is practical, fun, and memorable. Because of this, it truly helps to understand the essence of the issue,” summarizes Ms. Janáčková.
The materials from the GET project thus support skills that students will need in the future—in further studies, decision-making, and taking an active role in society. Stay with us to learn how other teachers across Europe have been using the GET TLUs and other educational materials. Join our community of global educators: download them for free and use them in your classroom.
