“The idea of an authentic audience pervades my instruction-students understand that the work they do is not just for my eyes, but to teach others in some way,” Pillars said. She also hopes that this opportunity will help all of her students learn how to think more deeply about the world around them.

My goal is to open any window I can for them into what our world holds, and ideally, plant seeds of wonder for further exploration.” “For many of them, this type of travel is an idea they would have never even entertained. “Our school has a high percentage of English-language learners, and their ability to travel freely is limited,” she said. Through her adventures, Pillars hopes her students catch “the bug of curiosity.” I think it will help teachers to reframe their content at a time when it’s vital to rethink what we are teaching, to reconsider what will hold the greatest value for our students in their futures.” “In actuality it would be far more impactful for students to see and understand the interdisciplinary connections within different content areas. “I always think there’s a danger of separating certain skills in different classes because then it’s easy to pawn off the responsibility and say that global education will happen in that class,” Pillars added. That way, teachers can show their students landscapes, wildlife, and footage of their travels.įellows make a two-year commitment to National Geographic’s education program and are also expected to engage with the community in some outreach of their choosing.įor her community outreach, Pillars will be offering professional development for teachers in her district to teach them how to better integrate global education into their classrooms. Teachers on each expedition are provided with a box of tech tools, like 360° cameras and GoPros, to use with guidance from a certified photo instructor from the program. “Just being around teachers who are also looking for new ways to think about and incorporate global education into classrooms was wonderful.” Some were formal educators and others were informal, like zookeepers and tour guides-all of these different perspectives,” Pillars said. “It was wonderful to be around a diverse group of educators. The entire cohort gathered at National Geographic headquarters in Washington for a three-day conference in March to meet and learn from naturalists, scientists, researchers, and past fellows in pre-expedition workshops and training. She will be traveling in June with three other teachers, naturalists, and Lindbalt-National Geographic photographers aboard the National Geographic Explorer, the partnership’s ice-class vessel and expedition ship.

Grosvenor teacher fellow