Real Teaching Experience
Lead global virtual classrooms and build confidence early in your undergraduate career.
IGlobal Explorers Teaching Team
Gain International Teaching Experience Without Leaving Campus
What Is IGlobal?
A Virtual Teaching Program for Undergraduate Students
The IGlobal Explorers Program is a virtual international teaching experience offered through the Office of International Programs in the College of Education. Designed as either preparation for a future study abroad experience or an alternative to one, undergraduate teachers work in small teaching teams, known as pods, to design engaging lessons, facilitate interactive learning activities, and build meaningful relationships with middle school students and teachers from around the world through weekly live Zoom sessions. No prior teaching experience is required. Every teacher receives comprehensive training, curriculum materials, and ongoing support throughout the semester. The program is open to students of all majors, class standings, and universities, including those outside the College of Education. The Explorers Program offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to develop leadership, communication, and teaching skills while gaining authentic international classroom experience before graduation.
Why Join?
Build Confidence, Teaching Skill, and Global Perspective
IGlobal is more than a campus activity. It is a structured teaching experience where undergraduate students practice leadership, collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and online instruction in a real global classroom.
International Experience
Engage with cultures around the world without ever leaving campus.
Collaborative Teaching
Work with a teaching pod to co-plan lessons, share ideas, support students, and build meaningful friendships with fellow undergraduate educators.
Leadership Growth
Advance into leadership roles such as experienced teacher, lead teacher, or senior lead teacher.
Hear From Our Teachers
What Makes IGlobal Special
The video includes undergraduates talking about the reasons they love teaching in the Explorers Program.
Typical Week
A Flexible Teaching Commitment That Fits Your Schedule
The time commitment averages just 3 to 4 hours per week. Students choose pod meeting times and teaching times that fit their availability.
Pod Planning
Begin each week with a one-hour pod meeting to discuss the upcoming lesson and co-create materials.
Lesson Preparation
Prepare portions of the lesson during the week independently so your pod is ready for the teaching session.
Live Zoom Session
Co-lead a one-hour live session with international middle school students.
Reflection
Reflect briefly on student engagement, teaching strategies, and your growth as an educator.
Student Voices
Hear from IGlobal Explorers Teachers
“Over the past 6 semesters of doing IGlobal, I’ve seen myself grow as a leader. My communication and collaboration skills have greatly improved.”
“IGlobal has been the most meaningful part of my undergraduate journey. It’s helped me grow not just as an educator, but also as a leader, collaborator, and person.”
“As a junior, teaching in IGlobal has given me the opportunity to think like a teacher and put my experiences toward my trove of teaching strategies.”
“By teaching in IGlobal, I have been able to see other teachers’ teaching styles, learn through their strengths, and apply them to my own work.”
Student Spotlight
How Grace’s IGlobal Journey Prepared Her for the Classroom
Grace Schlichter began working with IGlobal as a freshman and continued through her undergraduate journey. Her experience helped her broaden her understanding of students’ cultures and backgrounds while preparing for a future in the classroom.
Read Grace’s Story
What Will You Be Teaching?
An Inquiry-Based Global Curriculum
Each IGlobal semester is centered around one to three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a unique inquiry-based curriculum that changes each term. Undergraduate teachers facilitate engaging, student-centered lessons through discussions, collaborative projects, design challenges, and cross-cultural learning experiences. Each semester concludes with an International Student Symposium, where middle school students showcase their final projects to peers and partner schools from around the world.
No prior knowledge of the semester's theme is required. Before each term begins, all undergraduate teachers receive comprehensive curriculum training, lesson materials, and ongoing support from the IGlobal leadership team. Beyond preparing future educators, IGlobal helps all students develop valuable skills in communication, leadership, collaboration, and student-centered facilitation that are applicable across a wide range of careers.
To view past activities and sample lesson slides, please view them below:
This Semester’s Journey
From Your Schoolyard to the World
This semester, middle school students will become Schoolyard Scientists, transforming their own schoolyards into living laboratories for scientific discovery. Inspired by the work and vision of environmental educator and National Geographic Explorer Eshadi Mendis of Sri Lanka, the IGlobal Explorers Program has adapted her innovative concept into a semester-long global learning experience. Guided by undergraduate teachers, students will investigate local biodiversity, contribute observations through citizen science, collaborate with classrooms around the world, and develop creative solutions to support healthier, more sustainable school environments. The semester concludes with an International Student Symposium, where students present their research and environmental action plans to an international audience.
See What an IGlobal Session Looks Like
Only at Illinois
Build Your Professional Teaching Portfolio
Rather than simply observing a classroom, IGlobal gives undergraduate teachers the opportunity to develop authentic teaching experience as early as your freshman year that stands out on a future résumé. Through weekly instruction, collaboration with international classrooms, and ongoing coaching, you'll build a professional portfolio of high-demand skills before graduation. As the only program of its kind in the Big Ten, teaching with the Explorers Program prepares future educators with experiences that extend far beyond traditional field placements.
Global & Multilingual Teaching
Adapt instruction for students with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds while developing culturally responsive teaching practices.
Educational Technology
Build confidence using digital learning platforms, interactive instructional tools, and technology to design engaging learning experiences.
Zoom & Online Teaching
Develop expertise facilitating live Zoom instruction, managing breakout rooms, promoting student engagement, and leading collaborative online classrooms.
Classroom Management
Develop strategies for building classroom community, encouraging participation, facilitating collaboration, and supporting positive student engagement in online settings.
Undergraduate teachers who demonstrate continued commitment and professional growth may have the opportunity to earn Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) microcredentials through the IGlobal Explorers Program related to the following skills. Designed to recognize demonstrated teaching competencies beyond traditional coursework, these credentials provide an additional way to showcase your expertise to Illinois public and private school employers following graduation.
Grow With the Explorers Program
Grow as a Teacher and Leader
The IGlobal Explorers Program offers multiple opportunities for undergraduate teachers to grow as educators and leaders. As teachers gain experience, they may apply for advanced leadership roles that provide additional responsibilities, professional development, and mentorship opportunities. Each level builds upon the previous one, allowing students to take on greater leadership while making a larger impact on the program.
Undergraduate Research
As a member of the IGlobal Explorers Teaching Team, students can become involved in undergraduate research connected to global education, co-teaching, digital learning, and multilingual classrooms. If you are a James Scholar student, you can earn credit by teaching and completing research in the program each semester.
Join the Team
Ready to Join the Teaching Team?
Join the IGlobal Explorers Teaching Team and gain meaningful experience teaching, leading, and learning in a global classroom.
1310 S. Sixth St.
Champaign, IL 61820-6925
Phone: 217-333-0960