The value of digital critical reflection to global citizenship and global health

Abstract

This paper will contend that digital critical reflection can play a key role in tackling contemporary global health concerns. More specifically, institutes of higher education can utilize study abroad to foster global citizenship, which in turn may empower students to become civically engaged and potentially drive social change. However, global citizenship, as an educational outcome, is optimally facilitated when educational experiences are married with appropriate pedagogy, including the shaping of subsequent understandings and actions with critical reflection. This paper will discuss a pre-existing global health study abroad course, and outline: (1) why critical reflection is an essential step to fostering global citizenship, and (2) how digital story telling is being utilized to enrich the critical reflection process.