Transcript Slide 1

What is Worldview?
What is Worldview?
Worldview Is…

The beliefs that we have about reality and the nature
of human life. It is the lens through which we perceive,
identify and communicate who we are.

Our worldview shapes our behavior and all the
decisions that we make.

A worldview should answer the basic questions:



“Who are we?”
“Where do we come from?”
“How do we manage our lives?”

“Where are we going?”
Worldview is… Point of View

Point of view is the way you see things as an
individual

Your point of view is made up of opinions and
preferences held and expressed by you, as an
individual

i.e. Some of you may think that Christmas is your
favourite holiday while others like Halloween better
Worldview is… Perspective

Perspective is a point of view that a group of people
share

A perspective is the collective point of view of a
specific group.

Note: A perspective can be expressed by a member of the
group who has the ability to speak for others.
So… Worldview is…

A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by
an individual or a group; the overall perspective from
which one sees and interprets the world.

Our worldview includes perspective and point of view

Worldview is not static and is constantly changing over
time with new experiences
A Closer Look at Worldview

WORLDVIEW:

Tells what is important (our values)

Tells us what is right and wrong (our beliefs)

Tells us what to remember in our past (what is
important)
A Closer Look at Worldview
WORLDVIEW is often told or passed on in stories.
 First
Nations stories tell of the past and their
purpose, of their relationships to nature, explain
the cycles of life and their responsibilities to
nature
 Canadian
writers such as Pierre Berton express
the Canadian worldview and national identity
Canadian Worldview

Canadians share some or all of the following
characteristics, beliefs and values:
•
Universal programs to care for all (healthcare, education, social
assistance, pensions, minimum wage)
•
Peacekeepers & peacemakers; not militaristic
•
Debate then decide
•
Spirit of working together, spirit of confederation
•
Value diversity
•
Laws guide us
•
Protection of our rights and freedoms
•
Take time to make decisions, negotiate, & not be overly aggressive
•
ANY OTHER IDEAS??????
Traditional Aboriginal Worldview

Elders are respected for their wisdom.

Governing is through agreement, not control of
leader.

All life is sacred and equally important.

People are connected to the community and
ancestors.

Human experience includes spiritual, physical,
emotional and mental aspects.

Life is a circle; time moves through cycles.

All forms of life are connected in a constantly
changing, balanced relationship.

The well- being of the Earth is essential for our
survival and our children's.
A Western Worldview

All people are to be treated as equals.

Individuality is important.

Freedom of speech & religion are
important rights.

Families are an important social unit.

Basic education should be available to all.

Gaining wealth is important in order to have a pleasant &
comfortable life.

Humans are superior to all other life forms.

Time is broken down into units by which lives are
organized.

Science explains the world and makes it a better place.
Your Worldview Can Change . . . How?
1.
Acceptance of new technology (WWW, printing press, jet travel)

2. A leader mandating and maintaining policies ( Hitler, FranceLanguage police)
3.
Conflict and conquest (Spanish/Aztecs, Romans/Greeks)

4. Gradual adaptation (Materialism, open access to information)
Worldview Icon Elements

Geography-climate,
location, land

Time-mechanical/natural

Beliefslife/death/environment???

Society-roles available,
power, status, benefits

Values-how do people act

Economy-control of
resources

Knowledge-developed,
accepted, valued, controlled
GEOGRAPHY
WHAT ROLE DO GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS
PLAY IN HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT THE WORLD
AND BEHAVE IN IT?
 Where a group lives
 The climate
 Land formations
 Plants and animals
 Bodies of water
 Natural resources
TIME
IN WHAT TERMS IS TIME VIEWED BY THE
SOCIETY?
 Hectic vs Laid Back
 Mechanical (Schedules//Clocks) vs Natural (Seasons,
Sun/Moon)
SOCIETY
WHAT ROLES ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS
IN SOCIETY?
WHO HOLDS THE POWER?
 Equal power for all or distinct differences
 Way of life of a group of people
(language, rules of behavior, government,
religion, arts, literature, sciences , traditions and everyday
aspects of life we can observe).
VALUES
HOW DO PEOPLE IN SOCIETY ACT TOWARD
ONE ANOTHER?
HOW DO PEOPLE ACT TOWARD PEOPLE IN
OTHER SOCIETIES/GROUPS?
BELIEFS
WHAT BELIEFS DO PEOPLE HOLD ABOUT LIFE
/DEATH/ENVIRONMENT?
 Tells us what is right and wrong
 Tells us what things are important to us (the
environment)
ECONOMY
WHO CONTROLS THE RESOURCES?
WHAT IS TO BE PRODUCED?
HOW WILL IT BE DISTRIBUTED AND
PROTECTED?
KNOWLEDGE
HOW DO PEOPLE DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE?
WHAT WAYS OF KNOWING ARE ACCEPTED?
WHO HAS ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE?
HOW IS KNOWLEDGE VALUED?
WHERE AND IN WHOM DOES THE KNOWLEDGE
RESIDE?
WORLDVIEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART –
WHAT INFLUENCES OUR THOUGHTS?
Worldview
Who are we?
Where are we going?
Where doe we come from?
Why is the world the way it is?
How do we manage our way of life?
What is true and what is false?
WORLDVIEW OF CANADA
Think about how we view ourselves as
Canadians and we view the world.
 Watch the video on the next slide to see
if this is an accurate representation of our
worldview of Canada.
 Record your ideas on the” What is
Worldview?” sheet in the CANADA column.
 Be sure to include other ideas you may have
regarding the elements of worldview.

CANADA WORLDVIEW VIDEO
WORLDVIEW OF DARFUR
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Think about how we view other countries/regions that
may have different beliefs from us.
Watch the video on the next slide about Darfur and
fill in as much of the chart in the DARFUR column as you
can.
The same elements/categories of worldview are
expressed.You may have to watch it a few times to try to
understand what is being shown. Maybe you need to learn
more about Darfur before you can make clear opinions?
DARFUR WORLDVIEW VIDEO
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
DARFUR?
Last week we started to find out more info about Darfur.
Some of the main questions we were looking to answer
included:
Where is Darfur? (A region in Sudan)
Why are they living in these desperate conditions?
(Genocide against Non-Arab citizens resulting in war and
poverty.)
Watch the videos on the next slide to try to help you
fill in your worldview charts more thoroughly.
Have your “What is Worldview?” charts out ready to
add info to each category as you see evidence to support
these ideas.
DARFUR VIDEOS
Darfur in 10 Minutes (From the filmmaker’s point of
view)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzz
g
Darfurian Voices (From the Darfurian’s perspective)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g4ZQ0D50f
A&list=UU0ASKqJv-gBiq_18-Y8KpkQ
COMPLETE THE CHART WITH A
PARTNER
WORLDVIEW
ELEMENT
GEOGRAPHY
TIME
SOCIETY
VALUES
BELIEFS
ECONOMY
KNOWLEDGE
CANADA
DARFUR
YOUR
WORLDVIEW
EXTENDING OUR WORLDVIEW OF
OTHER COUNTRIES AND REGIONS
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Now that you have compared the worldview of Canada
and Darfur, think of another country or region that you
would like to know more about.
Over the next few days, you will need to research this
country and discover the worldview of that country by
learning more about the country’s elements of worldview.
(Geography, Time, Society,Values, Beliefs, Economy,
Knowledge)
After you have gathered your evidence, you will visually
represent what you found and present it to the class.
WORLDVIEW PROJECT
STEP 1:
 Choose a country or region that you want to learn more
about.
STEP 2:
 Think about why you want to learn more about that
country. Why are you so curious about it? Do you have
access to enough resources to learn more about the
country?
STEP 3:
 Start researching about your country, using the elements
of worldview as your categories, and record your sources.
Decide how you are going to organize your information.
Chart? Notes with headings??.
WORLDVIEW PROJECT…CONT’D
STEP 4:
 Choose a way to represent your ideas visually to present
to the class.
STEP 5;
 Create your project and ensure that all required
information is included.
STEP 6:
 Revise and edit your project to ensure it is your best
work.
HAPPY RESEARCHING!
SAMPLE CHART FOR WORLDVIEW
PROJECT
WORLDVIEW ELEMENT
GEOGRAPHY
TIME
SOCIETY
VALUES
BELIEFS
ECONOMY
KNOWLEDGE
INFO GATHERED
SOURCE