The Power of Immersive Learning for Future-Readiness
2024 EF Global Education Symposium
November 1–3, 2024 | Boston
Apply nowLearn from thought leaders in global education and network with peers
This November, join secondary educational leaders from the U.S. and Canada to engage with experts in the fields of immersive education and global competence. Hear from thought leaders and partner organizations as you explore the impact global-based learning can have on student outcomes. Return home with a deeper understanding of how educational travel can help students develop the essential skills they need to become engaged global citizens poised to make a difference in the world.
Administrators working with students in grades 6–12 are eligible to apply to attend the 2024 EF Global Education Symposium. EF offers a select number of full scholarships to attend the event that include a two-night stay, round-trip airfare, a day of inspiring workshops, a networking reception and dinner, other select meals, and experiential learning exploring the city of Boston. A self-funded option is also available. After submission of your application, an EF representative will be in touch to discuss these options.
Title/position
Have you ever been a Group Leader on an international EF student tour?
If so, when? Please indicate your travel year(s). (Optional)
Have you ever been a Group Leader on an EF student tour within North America?
If so, when? Please indicate your travel year(s). (Optional)
Why are you interested in attending the EF Global Education Symposium, and what do you hope to gain from it?
The second part of the application process is an interview with an EF representative. What day(s) and time(s) are you available for an interview?
Your EF representative will reach out to confirm a specific day and time after submission of this portion of the application.*
Experience the EF Global Education Symposium
And earn professional learning hours while doing it
Engage with thought leaders
Hear from experts in the fields of global competence and participate in interactive discussions.
Network across secondary education
Expand your professional network as you exchange ideas and collaborate with globally minded educators.
Experience hands-on cultural learning
Traverse both land and water on an iconic Duck Tour to learn about some of Boston’s most unique and historical landmarks.
Create an action plan
Determine next steps for bringing your experience back to your learning community.
Meet our keynote speaker
Dr. Olson works as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver and as a Curriculum Director for the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights in Washington, D.C. She taught in Denver Public Schools (DPS) for 33 years in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Dr. Olson received a B.A. in Elementary Education and Spanish; an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Language, Literacy, and Culture; and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Her dissertation, “The Meaning of Educational Travel in the Lives of Urban Middle School Students in a Low-Income Neighborhood: A Transformative, Sequential Mixed Methods Study,” elevates the voices of former travelers and offers advice for educators building educational travel programs in their school communities today.
Dr. Olson has also been an elected school board director on the DPS Board of Education since 2017, serving as Board President from 2019 to 2021 and 2023 to 2025. She was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Association of School Boards (2019 to 2025).
Hear from Dr. Olson
Program details
More details will be available in late Summer 2024.
Friday, November 1
Arrive in Boston
4:00–5:00pmOptional tour of EF Center Boston
5:00–7:30pmWelcome reception at EF Center Boston
Saturday, November 2
7:00–7:50amGrab & Go Breakfast
8:00–8:20am EF Welcome
8:20–9:20am Keynote
Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Student Success through Transformative Educational Travel
Travel-based learning has the transformative potential to be a catalyst for student success and community engagement. In alignment with diverse “Portraits of a Graduate,” this type of experiential learning instills lifelong learning habits and fosters critical skills that prepare students to navigate a complex world with confidence. Join us as we explore research around the impact of educational travel and challenge traditional narratives about who benefits from it and the roles that families and communities play in shaping a student’s learning opportunities.
Speakers: Dr. Carrie A. Olson and Vany Miramontes Marquez, Denver Public Schools
9:40am–10:40amChoose one session to attend
Teaching Advocacy for a Better World
At the crossroads of civic engagement and preparing youth for the future are vast educational opportunities for educators. Join the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) to discover new resources and frameworks to make learning innovative and meaningful for youth. They’ll introduce you to the UN Sustainable Development Goals along with an advocacy-based model that facilitates the necessary skill sets, mindsets, and acumen to shape the world—not as it is, but as it should be for everyone. Leave this workshop with actionable insights and practical tools to use in a variety of settings.
Speaker: Oscar Lopez, United Nations Association of the USA
Education in Finland: Essential Skill Development through Phenomenon-Based Learning
In this interactive workshop, discover some of the factors that have enabled the Finnish education system to lead the way worldwide in holistic and competency based education. We will explore phenomenon-based learning and the impact this approach has on students’ critical skill development. Walk away with a broader understanding of how Finland has led the way in educational innovation and what elements of this pedagogical approach might be possible to implement in your schools.
Speaker: Petteri Elo, PedaNow
10:50–11:50amRotations with STEM and Service Learning organizations
Transformative Journeys: Experiential Learning and Sustainable Development in the Andes of Peru
Embark on a journey through the rugged landscapes of the Andes, where Aaron has spent the past 15 years witnessing profound transformations in students from around the globe. Learn how his organization, the Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development (AASD), facilitates transformative experiences that challenge students to critically assess western lifestyles and develop a deep appreciation for sustainable livelihoods and indigenous knowledge. Walk away understanding how experiential learning not only transforms individuals but has the potential to change the world.
Speaker: Aaron Ebner, Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development
Get to know MassRobotics: Technology Accelerators and Builders of the Future Workforce
The future of technology is happening now. Learn about the Boston-based organization MassRobotics, the world’s largest independent robotics hub. Explore how this this organization is dedicated to accelerating robotics technology and adoption as well as the educational programs needed to build our future workforce.
Speaker: Joyce Sidopoulos, MassRobotics
Empowering Youth Through Marine Conservation
Transport yourself to Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, where you’ll meet marine conservation organization, Fundación Verde Profundo. Learn about the challenges and achievements of this small environmental nonprofit, as well as how they are engaging EF students in Service Learning to develop skills for future readiness.
Speaker: Tasha Gough, Fundación Verde Profundo
12:00–12:50pmGrab & Go Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Leadership Panel
Developing Future-Ready Students and Teachers: District Approaches to Travel-Based Learning
We live in an increasingly interconnected world that requires students to embody critical skills like problem-solving, resilience, confidence, and adaptability to be prepared for their futures. In this session, learn about three districts’ unique approaches to using immersive travel-based learning to power students’ and teachers’ development of these skills and how they are prioritizing equity of opportunity and long-term sustainability to create programs with lasting impact.
Speakers: Adella Arredondo, Denver Public Schools, CO; Meg Tully, Tucson Unified School District, AZ; Dr. Mitch Springer, Douglas County Schools, GA
2:10–3:10pmTravel-Based Learning in Your School Community: Structuring Your Support & Next Steps
After a day full of learning and inspiration, we’ll use this time to reflect on your takeaways and explore the different pathways available to you as you consider how to structure your support of educational travel and what your immediate next steps are upon returning home.
3:30–5:00pmDuck Tour of Boston
5:00pm–DinnerFree time
6:00pmNetworking dinners in assigned groups/locations
Sunday, November 3
Depart for home
EF enhances what you teach with relevant learning experiences outside the classroom
Our proven travel-based learning method takes students out of their comfort zones, safely. This firsthand approach to understanding the world leads to an internal journey of self-discovery. As students learn more about themselves, they build essential skills—like communication and collaboration—and return home empowered to take action and make a positive impact in the world.
We’re accredited by five prestigious educational associations
What are you waiting for?
Join us in Boston and discover how you can transform students into global citizens.