Economics · Grade 11

Active learning ideas

Globalization and its Impact

Active learning helps students confront the complexities of globalization by moving beyond abstract definitions to real-world consequences. By engaging in debates, simulations, and case studies, students can test assumptions and see how economic, social, and environmental factors interconnect in ways textbooks cannot capture.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Global Economic Interdependence - Grade 11
• ON: Economic Stakeholders - Grade 11

• 40–60 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Socratic Seminar
• 50 min · Small Groups

Debate Format: Globalization Pros vs Cons

Divide class into teams to research and prepare arguments for or against globalization's net impact. Each team presents for 5 minutes, followed by rebuttals and a class vote. Conclude with a reflection on evidence strength.

Analyze the economic benefits and costs of globalization.

Facilitation Tip

During the debate, assign roles like 'labor representative' or 'CEO of a multinational corporation' to ensure students engage with diverse perspectives, not just their own opinions.

What to look for

Pose the following question to small groups: 'Imagine you are advising the Canadian government. What are the top two economic benefits and top two economic costs of globalization that you would highlight, and why?' Have groups share their key points with the class.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Socratic Seminar
• 45 min · Small Groups

Case Study Rotation: Real-World Supply Chains

Prepare stations for companies like Apple or Tim Hortons, with data on economic, social, and environmental effects. Groups rotate every 10 minutes, noting impacts on nations involved, then share findings in a whole-class discussion.

Evaluate the impact of globalization on income inequality.

Facilitation Tip

For the case study rotation, provide guiding questions on each station (e.g., 'Who benefits most from this supply chain? Who bears the hidden costs?') to keep discussions focused.

What to look for

Present students with a short case study about a multinational corporation. Ask them to identify one positive and one negative social impact of the company's operations in a developing country, and one environmental concern related to its global activities.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Simulation Game
• 60 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: Global Trade Negotiation

Assign countries or roles with resource cards representing advantages like labor or tech. Groups negotiate trades over rounds, tracking inequality metrics. Debrief on how deals affect stakeholders.

Predict the future trends and challenges of global economic integration.

Facilitation Tip

In the simulation game, circulate with a clipboard to note which student groups are struggling to balance economic gains with social or environmental protections.

What to look for

On an index card, have students write one sentence explaining how globalization has affected income inequality, and one sentence predicting a future trend in global economic integration.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 04

• Socratic Seminar
• 40 min · Pairs

Trend Prediction: Future Scenarios

In pairs, students review current data on trade wars or green tech, then create infographics predicting globalization in 2030. Present and peer critique predictions.

Analyze the economic benefits and costs of globalization.

Facilitation Tip

During the trend prediction activity, require students to support their forecasts with at least one current event or data point from the past five years.

What to look for

Pose the following question to small groups: 'Imagine you are advising the Canadian government. What are the top two economic benefits and top two economic costs of globalization that you would highlight, and why?' Have groups share their key points with the class.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Approach globalization as a system where decisions in one area ripple across others. Avoid oversimplifying it as purely economic or purely harmful. Research shows students grasp these connections better when they role-play power dynamics in trade negotiations or trace supply chains step-by-step. Start with concrete examples (e.g., a T-shirt’s journey from cotton field to landfill) before abstracting to theories of comparative advantage or labor exploitation.

Successful learning looks like students articulating nuanced positions on globalization’s trade-offs, citing evidence from simulations or case studies, and applying these insights to new scenarios. They should move from broad claims to specific examples that show cause-and-effect relationships across countries and industries.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Debate Format: Globalization Pros vs Cons, watch for students claiming globalization benefits all countries equally.

  During the debate, assign groups to represent specific countries (e.g., Bangladesh for garment workers, Germany for auto manufacturers) and require them to cite data on GDP growth, wage gaps, or debt levels to show how outcomes vary by context.

• During the Case Study Rotation: Real-World Supply Chains, watch for students assuming only economic factors matter in globalization.

  During the case study rotation, direct students to the 'hidden costs' section of each station, where they must identify social or environmental impacts (e.g., child labor in cocoa farms, pollution from shipping ports) and link them back to the supply chain’s economic drivers.

• During the Simulation Game: Global Trade Negotiation, watch for students believing developing nations always lose from globalization.

  During the simulation, provide students with role cards that include conditional variables (e.g., 'If you have a skilled workforce, you can negotiate technology transfers') to demonstrate how developing nations can gain under certain conditions.

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Methods used in this brief

• Socratic Seminar
• Simulation Game