One of the most powerful features of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) is its use of global contexts — lenses that help students connect classroom learning to real-world issues. When used consistently across subjects, global contexts transform education into meaningful exploration.
Integrating these contexts ensures that every subject contributes to students’ understanding of their place in the world. Whether it’s through sustainability in Science, identity in Language and Literature, or innovation in Design, global contexts give learning purpose and direction.
Quick Start Checklist
- Understand the six official IB global contexts
- Map which contexts each subject emphasizes
- Encourage cross-departmental collaboration
- Design inquiry questions linking local and global relevance
- Reflect on connections made across disciplines
The Six IB Global Contexts
The MYP identifies six global contexts that anchor inquiry:
- Identities and Relationships – Exploring who we are and how we connect.
- Orientation in Space and Time – Understanding history, geography, and perspective.
- Personal and Cultural Expression – Investigating creativity and communication.
- Scientific and Technical Innovation – Examining how discovery shapes society.
- Globalization and Sustainability – Analyzing interconnected systems and environmental impact.
- Fairness and Development – Considering justice, equity, and human progress.
Each context helps students situate their learning within a broader perspective, encouraging empathy and critical thinking.
Why Global Contexts Matter Across Subjects
Global contexts give meaning to what students learn. Instead of viewing content as isolated information, students explore why it matters and how it connects to human experience.
When all subject groups integrate global contexts, learners:
- Build interdisciplinary connections naturally
- Strengthen critical and reflective thinking
- See relevance between classroom inquiry and global issues
- Develop the IB Learner Profile traits of being caring, open-minded, and reflective
This shared approach also fosters coherence across the curriculum — a key goal of strong MYP implementation.
How to Integrate Global Contexts Across Multiple Subjects
1. Collaborative Curriculum Mapping
Departments should review which global contexts they currently emphasize and identify gaps or overlaps. For instance, if Science frequently uses Scientific and Technical Innovation, Humanities might focus on Fairness and Development to provide balance.
2. Thematic Coordination
Choose a school-wide or grade-level theme each term that connects learning across subjects. For example, “Sustainability and Responsibility” could link:
- Design projects on renewable materials
- Science units on ecosystems
- Language and Literature analysis of environmental texts
- Individuals and Societies discussions on economic systems
3. Localizing the Global
Global contexts become most powerful when connected to students’ own environments. A unit on Globalization and Sustainability might explore local waste management or food sourcing, turning abstract ideas into real, relevant inquiry.
4. Embedding Reflection
Encourage students to reflect on how learning in one subject informs another. Journals, digital portfolios, or group discussions can help solidify interdisciplinary connections and deepen understanding.
Ensuring Conceptual Coherence
When global contexts are used effectively, they reinforce conceptual learning across subjects. Schools should ensure each unit planner explicitly lists:
- The chosen global context and its exploration focus
- The key and related concepts linked to it
- Inquiry questions that connect content to broader issues
Consistent use of global contexts also supports vertical alignment — ensuring students revisit big ideas at increasing levels of depth throughout their MYP years.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should every MYP unit include a global context?
Yes. Every MYP unit should identify one global context to guide inquiry and make learning relevant. This is a core requirement of the MYP framework.
2. Can multiple subjects share the same global context?
Absolutely. In fact, doing so strengthens interdisciplinary learning and helps students make authentic connections between disciplines.
3. How can teachers avoid superficial use of global contexts?
Go beyond naming a context — build inquiry questions and activities that require students to apply the context meaningfully. Depth matters more than coverage.
Conclusion
Integrating global contexts across subjects transforms MYP learning from isolated content into a connected exploration of the world. When schools coordinate intentionally, students begin to see how ideas, systems, and values intersect globally and locally.
By grounding every subject in authentic, relevant inquiry, teachers help learners not only master academic skills but also develop the compassion, awareness, and critical thinking that define IB graduates.
Global contexts remind students that their education isn’t confined to the classroom — it’s preparation for understanding and shaping the world around them.
