Teacher-Student Initiative 2024-2025

The Teacher-Student Initiative

The Teacher-Student Initiative is a program designed for North Carolina high school teachers who are interested in infusing their classrooms with global learning. As part of the Teacher-Student Initiative, teachers from diverse subject areas, from pre-calculus to fine arts, will work with faculty members and strategic partners to strengthen their understanding of an interdisciplinary global theme and further study the connections to educators’ STEAM specialties. Participants will learn how to integrate global content into their classrooms and then work alongside the TSI Assistant Director, UNC faculty, and peers to design a lesson plan that puts that learning into action in their classrooms. UNC World View Students Day will virtually connect teachers, their students, and faculty members to provide additional content and allow students to engage directly with faculty experts. At the end of the TSI program, teacher–participants will gather in Chapel Hill for a culminating Collaboration Celebration and Workshop where they will share lesson plans and best practices for teaching the global theme. The Teacher-Student Initiative will thus create a community of students, teachers, and faculty dedicated to tackling global challenges and promoting global education in their North Carolina classrooms.   

The Teacher-Student Initiative – UNC World View Students Day

UNC World View Students Day is designed to cultivate a collaborative classroom experience with high school students, in partnership with their teachers and UNC faculty. On UNC World View Students Day, students will meet virtually with Dr. Arv Malhotra to discuss global challenges and brainstorm deeper connections between their prior classroom knowledge and research on the pressing global theme. 

This year’s UNC World View Students Day will focus on Economic Sustainability: Empowering the Next Generation of Global Problem-Solvers. This year’s theme will provide students with the opportunity to study economic sustainability in Kenya and work together with others to take steps to solve problems. Under this pillar, educators will have the opportunity to select from one of the sub-categories: 

• Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries–Delve into environmentally responsible food production and resource management

• Upcycling, Repurposing, and Energy Innovation–Explore creative approaches to waste reduction and alternative energy sources

• Green Bucks: Smart and Sustainable Finance for a Brighter Future–Emphasize financial strategies that support sustainable development

Through these topics, participants will gain insights into building a more sustainable and equitable world. 

Dr. Arv Malhotra’s research projects include studying, successful open-innovation organizational and extra-organizational structures; adoption of innovative technology-based services by consumers and organizations; and management of knowledge in extra-organizational contexts. He has consulted, conducted applied research projects or led executive development workshops with ESPN, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, IBM, ExxonMobil, Primax Properties, Sprint, RosettaNet Consortium, American Golf Corporation, Cisco, ING Direct and Cargill Sweeteners. He has received research grants from the Society for Information Managers Advanced Practices Council, Dell, Carnegie-Bosche Institute, National Science Foundation, RosettaNet consortium, UNC-Small Grants Program and the Marketing Sciences Institute. He received his PhD in business administration and his MS in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Southern California. He earned his BE in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Delhi.

Program Goals:

1. To provide high school educators with professional development opportunities by working virtually with UNC faculty experts to strengthen their understanding of an interdisciplinary global theme and further study the connections to educators’ STEAM specialties
2. To virtually connect high school students, in partnership with their teacher, and UNC-Chapel Hill faculty
3. To enhance professional breadth for the teacher and greater global awareness for students as they become the world’s next generation of leaders

Program Benefits:

• Participants who complete all program requirements will be offered up to 3.0 CEUS or 30 PDCH for 30 hours of professional learning. 

• Participants who complete all program requirements will earn a stipend of $1000, to be received in the summer of 2025. 

• Participants will receive professional development and UNC resources related to the program, including one-on-one coaching by UNC World View’s Assistant Director. 

•  Participants will meet in Chapel Hill to collaborate with cohort members on lesson plans developed in relation to the Teacher-Student Initiative. 

Program Eligibility and Conditions of Participation: 

• Participants must be high school or early college educators teaching in North Carolina.  

• Participants must have at least one (1) full year of teaching experience. 

• Participants are required to participate in a virtual orientation on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Participants must have access to the Internet, a webcam, and a microphone. 

• Participants are required to attend the in-person K-12 Global Education Symposium: Opening Classrooms to the World held at UNC-Chapel Hill on Thursday, October 10, 2024.  

• Participants must attend a Zoom meeting with Prof. Arv Malhotra in November 2024. 

• Participants must identify and submit their content standard via email to Courtney Harris-Brown (chbrown@unc.edu) by Friday, November 15, 2024. 

• Participants must attend the introductory virtual workshop held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with Prof. Arv Malhotra.  

• Each participant is required to submit one lesson plan on or before Friday, March 28, 2025, via Google Docs. (Additional information on lesson plans will be provided.) 

• Participants are required to host UNC World View Students Day virtually in their classrooms on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. with Prof. Arv Malhotra. 

• Participants are required to attend an in-person Collaboration Celebration and Workshop at in Chapel Hill on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

• Participants are required to provide the name and contact information of a supportive leader within their school or district.

2024 – 2025 Program Timeline and Key Dates

 

Month	Activity
August 5	Application opens.
September 17	Application closes at 5:00 p.m.
August/September	Applicants are notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis
September 24	Virtual Orientation Via Zoom at 4:00 p.m.
October 10	K-12 Global Education Symposium: Opening Classrooms to the World  In-person at UNC-Chapel Hill
November TBD	Virtual Collaboration Session w/TSI Assistant Director and UNC Prof. Arv Malhotra  Via Zoom
November 15	Identification of grade level and North Carolina Standard Course of Study Due via email to Courtney Harris-Brown (chbrown@unc.edu)
February 4	Virtual orientation with Prof. Arv Malhotra Via Zoom at 4:00 p.m.
March 28	Final lesson plan is due  Submit via Google Docs
April 15	UNC World View Students Day with Prof. Arv Malhotra Via Zoom from 9:00 a.m.– 10:15 a.m. ET
April 25	Collaboration Celebration and Workshop  In-person in Chapel Hill, NC from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. ET

Teacher-Student Initiative Student Ambassador Club 

We are excited to introduce the Teacher-Student Initiative Student Ambassador Club (SAC) as a pilot program dedicated to equipping students with the global knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an interconnected world. By fostering strong partnerships between educators and students, the TSI Student Ambassador Club will heighten awareness of global issues, enhance critical thinking abilities, and cultivate a profound understanding of different cultures. Through these efforts, students will be empowered to become informed and engaged global citizens and prepared to navigate and contribute positively to an increasingly complex and interconnected global community.  

Eligibility: This pilot program will begin with five SAC advisors in the 2024-2025 school year. To be eligible to be an advisor for the Student Ambassador Club, you must be an educator in eastern North Carolina AND have participated in the Teacher-Student Initiative in the past or be highly recommended by an individual in a leadership position.

Each SAC advisor will run a small local club at their home school that meets the following guidelines: 

• Student Selection: Each school’s club will have a maximum of 10 students, who are either current or former students of the Teacher-Student Initiative educator These students must demonstrate a keen interest in global issues and cultural curiosity and will be selected by the SAC advisor.

• Engagement Requirements: Students are required to engage in a minimum of 10 working hours per semester. Activities may include meetings, workshops, cultural events at school or in the community, research, and community service. 

• Individual or Group Projects: Students will work on projects that showcase their awareness of current global issues, critical thinking, and understanding of diverse cultures. Examples include research papers, presentations, multimedia projects, and cultural exchange programs. These projects may be completed independently or collaboratively with advisor approval. 

SAC Advisor Deliverables: 

Each SAC advisor will: 

• Create specific expectations and guidelines for student participation, project design, and project completion 

• Host at least one club-wide meeting per semester. 

• Provide feedback and evaluate students’ progress and final projects 

• Share information with UNC World View about students’ final projects 

To achieve these goals, SAC advisors will: 

• Meet with the Assistant Director for the Teacher-Student Initiative in the fall to receive one-on-one coaching and discuss student expectations and guidelines 

• Collaborate with fellow SAC advisors during two virtual meetings to share progress (mid-year) and provide feedback on pilot program (end-of-year) 

• Meet with Assistant Director for the Teacher-Student Initiative to share out students’ work

Advisor Benefits

• Participants who complete all program requirements will be offered up to 2.0 CEUS or 20 PDCH for 20 hours of professional learning. 

• Participants who complete all pilot requirements/participation will earn a stipend of $1000, to be received in the summer of 2025. 

• Participants will receive professional development and UNC resources, including one-on-one coaching by UNC World View’s Assistant Director for the Teacher-Student Initiative 

• Participants will receive support from fellow club advisors through two virtual collaboration meetings. 

We are excited about the potential impact of this pilot program and look forward to the contributions of our selected educator-advisors and students.  

Pilot Notes:

• The application to be a SAC Advisor is coming soon! Check back or email Courtney Harris-Brown at chbrown@unc.edu for more information.
• As 2024-2025 UNC World View Student Ambassador Club is a pilot program, we anticipate there may be adjustments based on feedback from advisors throughout the year. These changes will help us refine and enhance the program to better meet the needs of both students and advisors. However, please be assured that the benefits for advisors will remain unchanged, provided all requirements and participation criteria are met. Your involvement and insights are crucial in shaping the future of the Student Ambassador Clubs. 

Teacher-Student Initiative Program Application Instructions

• Review the program goals, benefits, conditions of participation, and timeline/key dates.
• Complete the UNC World View Teacher-Student Initiative Application Sections I, II, III, IV, and V.
• Click on the “Submit” button at the end of this page to send the application to UNC World View or email the application and any supporting documents directly to worldview@unc.edu.

For additional information, please contact Courtney Harris-Brown at chbrown@unc.eduor visit worldview.unc.edu.

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