The Global Center is also supporting K-12 teachers to develop their own knowledge of the SDGs so they can foster knowledge, skills, and a globally-prepared mindset in their students. In partnership with the HLS National Resource Centers and the School of Education, we ran a two part institute for educators that began with a webinar to introduce the Sustainable Development Goals and explain the value of teaching with them. Part two of the institute was a three-week hybrid course with synchronous and asynchronous online components. The asynchronous component of the course included videos from regional experts that presented localized case studies of the SDGs and how these large global challenges manifest in policy and practice. Case studies included the history of zero-waste movement in Poland, the government response to poverty in rural China, and connection between conflict and the SDGs in Syria and Iraq. The asynchronous component also included examples of how teachers around the world use the SDGs in their classroom. The synchronous components fostered a community of practice and created space for teachers to brainstorm how they will bring the SDGs into their classes.

Over 50 teachers participated in the two parts of the Institute and found them valuable in multiple ways. Through the various lectures, materials, and case studies, teachers gained new knowledge. As one teacher explained,

Teachers also valued the opportunity to connect with other teachers engaged in this work. For example, another teacher wrote that her favorite part was

Finally, teachers demonstrated a growth in their own mindset and their commitment to addressing these large global challenges as teachers and as human beings. As one teacher noted,