Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the MAT program, offering students meaningful opportunities to connect theory with practice. By engaging directly in diverse educational settings, MAT students deepen their understanding of pedagogy, build cultural competence, and develop the reflective habits essential for effective teaching. These hands-on experiences not only enhance professional readiness but also empower future educators to navigate the complexities of real-world classrooms with confidence and adaptability.
North Carolina Outward Bound School »
International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education (INTER) »
North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS)
The UNC MAT Outward Bound Wilderness Course offers a transformative five-day expedition through the stunning mountains of Western North Carolina during students’ Maymester. Designed specifically for future educators, this immersive experience blends backpacking, rock climbing, and experiential learning to foster deep personal growth and meaningful group connection. It’s a chance to challenge yourself, build lasting relationships, and explore a whole new side of education.
Learn more about North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) »
Funding
Thanks to our generous donors, this wilderness course is FREE to UNC MAT students (Course value: $1750.)
Backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, climbing equipment, and more are provided. Limited spots available.
Program Arrangement
The UNC MAT program partners with NCOBS, who has 55+ years of experience changing lives through challenge and discovery, to deliver this course. Their pedagogy empowers students through supportive learning communities, meaningful challenges, and emotional risk-taking, fostering internal motivation, resilience, and authentic collaboration while progressively giving learners greater ownership of their educational journey.
While you don’t need to be an extreme athlete, participants should be prepared to push themselves — hiking 3–5 miles a day through mountainous terrain with approximately 50-pound packs, and engaging in a half-day of rock climbing that’s always challenge by choice.
Program Goals
- Developing new educators’ understanding of experiential education through a personal journey.
- Encouraging educators to focus on student-centered practices.
- Exploring strategies for creating classroom cultures that foster belonging and support social emotional learning.
- Facilitating community building and personal growth.
Contact
Nicole Damico, Ph.D.
Program Director, Master of Arts in Teaching
Email: nicole.damico@unc.edu
International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education (INTER)
International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education (INTER) is an exchange program for pre-service teachers at the UNC School of Education to engage with pre-service teachers at the University of Hamburg in Germany, the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana, the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Griffith University in Australia.
The program aims to foster the professional development of budding educators across diverse contexts. As INTER Fellows navigate new linguistic, cultural, and educational environments, they are forced to deal with uncertainty in their learning — an experience not dissimilar to what K-12 students often encounter daily in schools. INTER leverages these moments of uncertainty as opportunities for reflection and growth, with the goal of positively shaping the Fellows’ future teaching practice.
Funding
This project is partially funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) from funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Program Arrangement
The full exchange program spans nearly three semesters. INTER Fellows from the UNC School of Education are paired with student teachers from each university across five continents. The international exchange begins in a virtual classroom, where student teacher small groups start to explore the contexts and concepts that shape their journey toward becoming teachers.
During the summer, INTER Fellows spend four weeks studying and visiting schools in Hamburg, Germany, as part of the Universität Hamburg “Study Camp,” alongside their peers from Hamburg, Winneba, Buenos Aires, and Queensland.
Program Goals
INTER aims to enhance professionalism before, during, and after teacher education coursework and fieldwork by exposing future teachers to other cultures and encouraging reflection on their own experiences and perceptions.
Through year-long engagement in a digital classroom, TTT Fellows will:
- Observe, analyze, and discuss lessons, educational systems, and pedagogical methods with peers from Germany and Ghana.
- Reflect on their preconceptions about other educational systems.
- Expand their knowledge and skills by exploring topics and challenges they are likely to encounter in their future careers.
- Hone their academic skills by participating in a group-based research project.
Contact
Jocelyn Glazier, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Email: jocelyng@email.unc.edu