Cultivating Curiosity: Motivating and Engaging Education Abroad Learners

Thursday, March 20, 2025

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM US EST

Location: Civic Ballroom North, 2nd floor

Session Leader(s)

Kyle Rausch

Executive Director
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Handouts Slides

Presenter(s)

Brian C. Henry

Director of US Institutional Partnerships and Strategy
Seagull Institute
Burlington, North Carolina, United States
LS

Lamar Shambley

Executive Director
Teens of Color Abroad (TOCA)
BROOKLYN, New York, United States

Curiosity is crucial for intercultural competency and highly valued in today's job market. But can it be taught? This panel explores how to nurture curiosity, particularly in international education. We’ll review key research, discuss practical strategies, and engage in an interactive movie trailer activity to spark your curiosity and creativity. Join us for a dynamic session that goes beyond theory to unlock the power of curiosity in education abroad.

Learning Objectives:

Identify practices that facilitate curiosity and motivate learners, particularly with regard to education abroad and foreign language learning.
Explain how curiosity is necessary for intercultural competency development.
Examine how curiosity can be used to increase student awareness of and interest in education abroad.
Develop education abroad programs that leverage curiosity to enhance learning.