Professional Learning

Back-to-School Virtual Meet-ups for Program Directors

Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 12:00 PM Pacific / 3:00 PM Eastern / 9:00 PM Central European Summer Time
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 9:00 AM Pacific / 12:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central European Summer Time

These meet-ups are a casual opportunity to reconnect with colleagues leading global education initiatives to hear what they are planning for this fall and to hear about resources from GEBG. We offer meet-ups free of charge to adults from GEBG Member Schools, and you are welcome to register for one or both of them. We don’t record meet-ups in support of frank and open conversation.

+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ DATES: Register for one or both meet-ups
+ COST: Free / Member schools only

Register Here

Monthly Meet-ups for Climate Educators and Sustainability Leaders in Schools

September 2024 – May 25, Monthly on Mondays / Virtual

An informal meet-up with a participant-generated agenda to discuss opportunities, resources, and challenges of climate education and sustainability program leadership at schools. Participants from member schools are welcome to join any meet-up and only need to register once for all meet-ups. Facilitated by Lindsey Lohwater, Science Department Faculty, Sustainability Coordinator, St. Mark’s School.We don’t record meet-ups in support of frank and open conversation.

+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ DATES: 2nd Monday of each month (with two exceptions for holidays) / 4-5PM Pacific / 7-8PM Eastern
+ AUDIENCE: Open to educators in current GEBG Member Schools (including educators formerly part of the independent schools sustainability leads group)
+ COST: Free

Register Here

Topical Meet-up: Empowering Students around Climate Issues Meet-up

October 9, 2024 // 9-10AM Pacific // 12-1PM Eastern // 6-7PM Central European

Join this meet-up to explore how schools are empowering students to take meaningful action around climate- and sustainability-related issues. Some potential areas of conversation include

Developing and overseeing student sustainability/climate committees (or other student leadership groups)
Creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn about climate topics and issues (i.e. campus speakers, student-centered programming, or off-campus experiences)
Engaging student voice in the development or implementation of events or initiatives (i.e. Earth Week, campus-wide programs, or climate action plans)
Supporting students in taking meaningful local action related to climate change

GEBG Topical Meet-Ups are casual, participant-driven spaces to connect with peers and engage in discussion around a particular topic of interest, generated in response to member needs. Topical meet-ups begin with 2-3 schools sharing their work in the area of focus, followed by breakout rooms. GEBG Meet-Ups are not recorded in order to support open and frank conversation.

+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ DATES: October 9, 2024 // 9-10AM Pacific // 12-1PM Eastern // 6-7PM Central European
+ AUDIENCE: Open to educators in current GEBG Member Schools (including educators formerly part of the independent schools sustainability leads group)
+ COST: Free

Register Here

Intercultural Dialogue Webinar: What is it and how can it support schools?

What is intercultural dialogue, and what is it not? How might this research-informed pedagogical practice support schools’ efforts around civil discourse, strengthen inclusion and belonging, and engage students in competency based learning? This webinar will share the fundamentals of intercultural dialogue, the competencies it teaches like perspective-taking and communication across difference, and highlight several school models from various departments and programs.

Presented by:
Melissa Brown, Director of Professional Development and Intercultural Programs, GEBG
Chad Detloff, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, GEBG

+ DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific // 3:00 PM Eastern // 9:00 PM Central European
+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ COST: Free / Member schools only

Registration here

Webinar on Current Research in K-12 Climate Education

In this webinar, Clare Sisisky, post-doctoral research fellow at the Klingenstein Center (2022-2024) and Executive Director of the GEBG, will share findings from her two-year study with over 70 participants from over 30 independent schools on how educators are equipping and empowering their students for climate action in their curriculum, including examples from across departments and grade levels. Learn more about how student anxiety, teacher motivation, and climate change are connected and highly relevant for our schools.
Live Q+A to follow presentation; registrants will receive a recording of the session, available for a limited time.

Presented by:
Clare Sisisky, Executive Director, Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)

+ DATE: Wednesday, October 2 from 9-9.45AM Pacific / 12-12.45PM Eastern / 6-6.45PM Central European
+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ AUDIENCE: Open to educators in current GEBG Member Schools (including educators formerly part of the independent schools sustainability leads group)
+ COST: Free

Register here

NAIS Webinar: Insights for Schools from the NAIS and GEBG Global Engagement Report

Independent schools have been embracing––and innovating––global education programs as a way to help students become more well-rounded global citizens. Given this and the growing importance of global education in a changing world, GEBG and NAIS partnered in the fall of 2023 to learn about the trends in independent schools and the ways schools are teaching students and connecting with the world—through curriculum, learning experiences, partnerships, and more. Join us for this free one-hour presentation sharing the findings of the NAIS and GEBG Schools Global Engagement Report. You will learn about the multiple dimensions of global education at independent schools, including the purpose of global education, curriculum requirements and offerings, administration, travel programs, as well as funding and budget.

Presented by:
Clare Sisisky, Executive Director, Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)
Ioana Wheeler, Senior Director of Global Initiatives, National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

+ DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 Central European Summer Time
+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ AUDIENCE: Global Education Directors and Coordinators; Global Studies; Teachers; Advisors; Heads of Schools; Assistant or Associate Heads of Schools; Directors of Teaching and Learning; Curriculum Coordinators; and more.
+ COST: Free / NAIS Member schools only

Register here

Make the Case for Global Education Across the School Virtual Webinar

Learn how to leverage emerging research, data, and strategic communications to make the case for advancing an education relevant for today’s complex world anchored in your school’s mission.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM EST / 1:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM Central European Summer Time

+ FORMAT: Virtual Webinar with live Q&A, A recording will be shared with all registered attendees
+ DATES: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 Central European Summer Time
+ COST: Free / Member schools only

Due to scheduling this program has been reconfigured to one webinar which will be offered live on October 16th. A recording will be shared with all registered attendees.

Register Here

Collaborating with Writers and Agents to bring Global Issues and Perspectives into Student Learning Webinar

Many schools engage with authors and writers as guest speakers, from journalists to novelists to poets. These visits often bring new stories and perspectives into students’ learning; they often ask students to engage with challenging global issues or to understand with empathy the lives of other people. But how might we better collaborate with these speakers to maximize their time on campus? How might we engage student learning beyond the one-time visit? How might we better work with agents to help them understand our needs, both financial and educational?

Presented by
Scott Parsons, Director of the Upper School, Columbus School for Girls (OH, USA)

Preparing Students for Mental Wellbeing on Overnight School Programs Webinar

In this webinar, GEBG’s Counselor-in-Residence will provide a guided overview of GEBG’s new tool – a pre-departure activity for students to explore the potential stressors involved in overnight programs and their tools and skills to respond to and manage stress. We hope you can join us live as we will include a live Q and A but you can also register to receive the recording of the presentation section.

Presented by:
Leah Rockwell, Counselor-in-Residence, Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)

+ DATE: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM Pacific // 5:00 PM Eastern
+ FORMAT: Virtual
+ COST: Free / Member schools only

Registration opens soon!

GEBG Custom School Services

GEBG offers a variety of custom programming support to both member and non-member schools. These include risk management support, curriculum development, intercultural dialogue training and strategic planning. 
Schools are welcome to see overviews of our offerings, examples of what is possible, and the associated costs at the link below.
Read More and Submit your Interest Here

Risk-Management Microcourse for Overnight-Travel Program Leaders

As many schools focus on equipping leaders in risk management of overnight travel programs in domestic and international settings, we will be offering a fully virtual, asynchronous, self-paced course this school year.

Leaders of overnight programs in schools are usually teachers, coaches, and other members of the school community. While the skill set necessary for leadership of overnight programs has many overlaps with the competencies of these school professionals, there are other essential understandings and skills necessary to manage the many risks associated with domestic and international learning experiences. This custom course is catered to support these busy school leaders and to support your continued work in developing and improving your school’s risk-management policies, procedures, and capacity.

Course Essential Questions
What is risk management (RM)? Why is it important to teacher-leaders of overnight programs, domestic and international?
What are some of the relevant model practices in managing risk for overnight travel?
What does pre- and post-travel risk management entail—in addition to on-site risk-management for domestic and international programs?
How can I as an educator and trip leader best keep students, leaders, and the institution safe from both wellbeing and liability risks before, during, and after an overnight travel program?

Microcourse content to include some recorded presentations, video content, scenarios, and related resources. Participants who complete all required components of the course will receive certificate of completion.

+ FORMAT: Virtual, fully asynchronous online course through Canvas LMS // 4-6 total hours (self paced)
+ DATES: Course runs asynchronously through the 2024-2025 school year — certificates of completion sent in January, June, and September 2025
+ COST: $195, members only; discount for schools with more than 10 participants
+ AUDIENCE: Travel program leaders, global directors, school administrators

REGISTER HERE

Risk Management Microcourse for Leadership and Administration for Overnight Travel Programs

This microcourse helps participants identify aspects of their current practices that they want to expand as well as areas for new development through collaborative efforts. Through a series of recorded conversations with experts across the international risk-management field, participants will be able to identify the core practices relevant to their school at this time and to learn about how these experts are thinking about and managing COVID-related risks at this time. Curated resources support participants’ ability to look deeper into topics of particular relevance and interest, and the self-paced, fully asynchronous model provides flexibility and independence during this particularly busy time.

Guest speakers include
Katie Baum Mettenbrink, Associate Director of Operations, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
Jeff Baierlein, Director, Viristar
Sara Boisvert, Director of the Powell Institute for Responsible Citizenship, Collegiate School, VA
Felipe Correa, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Envoys
Dr. Clare Dallat, Director of Risk Resolve and adjunct member of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems
Dr. Mark Fischer, Medical Director, International SOS
Bill Frederick, Director of Safety at the Guarini Institute at Dartmouth and Founder of Lodestone Safety International
Liz Gray, Consultant, Remote Area Risk International (R2Ri)
John Hughes, Director of Experiential Education, The Lawrenceville School, NJ
Justin Kollinger, Risk Management Consultant, United Educators
John Nordquist, Cross-Perspective Consultant, AEE Accreditation Council
Bobby Riley, Vice President, Fred C. Church Insurance
Steve Smith, Founder, Outdoor Risk Experiential Consulting
Henning Snyman, Security Director, International SOS

+ FORMAT: Virtual, fully asynchronous online course through Canvas LMS // 12-15 total hours (self paced)
+ DATES: Course runs asynchronously through 2024-2025 school year
+ COST: $300 for members; $375 for non-members
+ AUDIENCE: School administrators, global directors, travel program leaders

REGISTER HERE

Virtual Course on Supporting Student Mental Health on Overnight Programs

Developed and facilitated by Leah Rockwell, Rockwell Wellness Consulting

This course seeks to equip learners with a variety of ways that they can support student mental health in their processes and protocols leading up to travel, during travel and after travel as to mitigate risks related to student mental health crises and to support resilience development in program participants.

Learners will become familiar with mental health concepts such as:
Current mental health trends in today’s students
Informed consent
Definitions of mental health
Trauma and post-traumatic growth
Trauma-informed program design
The “window of tolerance”
The role of the counselor and the limits of the counseling profession
The basics of mental health first aid, adapted for travel programs
Stabilizing and grounding exercises to support mental health
Emotional dysregulation and co-regulation

+ FORMAT: Virtual, fully asynchronous online course through Canvas LMS // 4-6 total hours (self paced)
+ DATES: Course runs asynchronously through the 2023-2024 school year
+ COST: $300 member schools, $375 non-members
+ AUDIENCE: Overnight Program Leaders, Global Directors, School Administrators

REGISTER HERE

Virtual Course on Developing and Utilizing Virtual Exchange in Course or Program Curriculum

Virtual exchange provides students in a class or activity an essential opportunity to continue to make connections with others, near and far, developing global competencies. This independent, self-paced course provides teachers, program leaders, and school curriculum developers with model practices in virtual exchange, advice for establishing and sustaining exchanges, and guidance on developing exchanges that are integrated into preexisting programming or coursework. Learning modules include videos, readings, and curated resources.

+ FORMAT: Virtual, fully asynchronous online course through Canvas LMS // 10-12 total hours (self paced)
+ DATES: Course runs asynchronously through the 2024-2025 school year
+ COST: $300 member schools, $375 non-members
+ AUDIENCE: Classroom teachers of all subjects and grade levels, program leaders, and school curriculum developers

REGISTER HERE

Global Competence Certificate for Educators in Partnership with AFS

In order to teach the intercultural competencies necessary for students to thrive as engaged citizens in a diverse society and interconnected world, educators need to understand what those competencies are, what they look like in both students and in themselves, and how to best develop educational environments and opportunities to model and teach these competencies.

GEBG is partnering with AFS Intercultural Programs       to offer a Global Competence Certificate program for educators across grade levels and subject areas at GEBG member schools. The program includes a combination of AFS-developed asynchronous online coursework as well as synchronous GEBG-facilitated educator dialogues.

Course Outline

Unit One: Inward

Welcome & Roadmap, Culture & Identity, Observe Your Context

Unit Two: Outward

When Differences Collide, Empathy & Listening, Stereotypes & Generalizations, Suspending Judgment, Cultural Value Dimensions, Communication Styles, Dealing with Conflict, Polarized Societies, Understanding Inequality

Unit Three: Forward

Teaching the SDGs, Taking Action, Globally Competent Teaching

Support the educators in your school to develop and demonstrate the intercultural competencies your global education and DEI commitments ask of them. Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate to accompany the new knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed through the program!

+ FORMAT: Asynchronous online coursework (10-15 hours) and four synchronous, virtual educator dialogues
+ DATES: A certificate for the course requires full participation in 4 synchronous Facilitated Dialogue Sessions which cover 4 different content areas. Participants may choose to participate only in the asynchronous aspect of the course; no course certificate will be issued.  If a participant is unable to attend a session, they will be able to makeup missed dialogues in the make up session listed below.

Dialogue #1

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 // 12-1.30PM Pacific / 3-4.30PM Eastern / 9-10.30PM Central European

Dialogue #2:

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 // 12-1.30PM Pacific / 3-4.30PM Eastern / 9-10.30PM Central European

Dialogue #3:

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 // 12-1.30PM Pacific / 3-4.30PM Eastern / 9-10.30PM Central European

Dialogue #4:

Tuesday, December 10 2024 // 12-1.30PM Pacific / 3-4.30PM Eastern / 9-10.30PM Central European

Make Up Session

Wednesday, December 11,2024 // 12-1.30PM Pacific / 3-4.30PM Eastern / 9-10.30PM Central European

+ COST: $250 member schools only
+ AUDIENCE: Adults interested in developing their global competence

Register Here

PLC: Competency-Based Curriculum Design for Experiential Programs

Leading a department or program that utilizes place-based, experiential learning involves strong understanding of global curriculum development and relevant pedagogies, developing connected curricular experiences across various experiences or grade levels, and mentoring educators who often teach both in and out of the classroom. This PLC will engage current program leaders for any grade levels K-12—including global directors, experiential education directors, and other relevant curriculum leaders—in dialogue around the following questions, as well as any of their own:

What does competency-driven global curriculum look like across grade levels and schools? What are sample practices and pedagogical tools that teachers who work in predominantly experienced-based teaching and learning utilize in their work?
How might educators evaluate student development with regard to global competencies and global citizenship learning outcomes?
How do leaders of departments or programs collaborate with key stakeholders to improve current curriculum or to develop new courses, large-scale, or all-school programs?

Participants will explore GEBG resources and numerous school models, and will share their progress around their unique curriculum design goals and contexts. Sessions will include some presentation, dialogue, resource-sharing, modeling, and guest speakers when possible.
Space is very limited in support of meaningful dialogue and cohort development.

+ FORMAT: Four synchronous, one-hour virtual sessions
+ DATES:
Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 9-10AM Pacific / 12-1PM Eastern / 6-7PM Central European
Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 9-10AM Pacific / 12-1PM Eastern / 6-7PM Central European
Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 9-10AM Pacific / 12-1PM Eastern / 6-7PM Central European
Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 9-10AM Pacific / 12-1PM Eastern / 6-7PM Central European
+ FACILITATOR: Sophie Paris, Director of the Institute for Global Education, Miss Porter’s School (CT, USA)
+ COST: $195/participant

Register Here

PLC: Teaching World Religions in a Global Context

Although “World” Religions might seem inherently global in nature, teachers committed to developing students as global citizens can go far beyond teaching belief systems and religious/spiritual practices around the world and throughout history. This PLC will engage current teachers of world religions at any grade level K-12 in dialogue around the following questions, as well as any of their own:

What global competencies are best developed in world religions classrooms?
What does competency-driven world-religions curriculum look like across grade levels and schools? How can teachers of world religions better integrate global competencies and/or content into their classes?
How might educators of world religions evaluate student development with regard to global competencies and global citizenship learning outcomes?

Participants will explore GEBG resources and numerous school models, and will share their progress around their unique curriculum design goals and contexts. Sessions will include some presentation, dialogue, resource-sharing, modeling, and guest speakers when possible.
Space is very limited in support of meaningful dialogue and cohort development.

+ FORMAT: Four synchronous, one-hour virtual sessions
+ DATES:
Thursday, September 26 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Thursday, October 10 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Thursday, November 7 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Thursday, December 5 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
+ FACILITATOR: Melody Fox-Ahmed (Washington D.C., USA)
+ COST: $195/participant

Register Here

PLC: Intercultural Dialogue in the Classroom: Connecting Across Difference

Today’s students want to engage with challenging issues and talk about what’s happening in the world. Yet most secondary schools have limited capacity to provide curriculum-integrated opportunities for real dialogue that develops competencies students need to succeed in schools, workplaces, and beyond. In this PLC, current teachers in any discipline grades 7-12 will have the opportunity to explore the various models of intercultural dialogues and design a lesson or unit to utilize dialogue as a pedagogical tool in their own classes or programs.
Participants will discuss the following questions as well as any of their own:

What is dialogue, and why is it important more now than ever?
What can it look like to meaningfully integrate dialogue in classes or programs?
How can teachers meaningfully, efficiently, and sustainability use dialogue as a pedagogical tool?

Sessions will include some presentation, dialogue, resource-sharing, modeling, and guest speakers when possible.
Space is very limited in support of meaningful dialogue and cohort development.

+ FORMAT: Four synchronous, one-hour virtual sessions
+ DATES:
Tuesday, September 24 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern //
Tuesday, October 22 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Tuesday, November 5 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Tuesday, December 3 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
+ FACILITATOR: Melissa Brown, Director of Professional Development and Intercultural Programs, GEBG
+ COST: $195/participant

Register Here

PLC: Global Perspectives, Cultures, and Issues in the PreK-4 Classrooms

Teachers in elementary or primary schools have ample opportunity to support their students’ development of key global competencies such as understanding multiple perspectives and being respectfully curious about cultures beyond their own. In this PLC, elementary educators will design a curriculum unit or project in any discipline or subject that brings global perspectives, cultures, or issues into the classroom and centers developing related competencies. Facilitated by an experienced elementary educator across grade levels K-4, participants will learn about resources, model practices, and developmentally-appropriate ways to engage their students with the world, close to home and far away.
Participants will discuss the following questions as well as any of their own:

What are the global competencies and learning outcomes that are developmentally appropriate for younger students?
What can it look like to meaningfully integrate global education into classes or programs in these grades?
How can teachers meaningfully, efficiently, and sustainability engage families and community partners in this work?

Sessions will include some presentation, dialogue, resource-sharing, modeling, and guest speakers when possible.
Space is very limited in support of meaningful dialogue and cohort development.

+ FORMAT: Four synchronous, one-hour virtual sessions
+ DATES:
Tuesday, September 24 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Tuesday, October 22 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Tuesday, November 5 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
Tuesday, December 3 from 12-1PM Pacific // 3-4PM Eastern
+ FACILITATOR: Amanda Collongues, Lower School Teacher; Global Education Coordinator, Academy of the Sacred Heart (LA, USA)
+ COST: $195/participant

REGISTRATION CLOSED