January 12 - March 16, 2025

Please click here to apply to the 2025 TED Program. The application deadline is Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 11:59 P.M. CST (U.S.).

What is the Transatlantic Educators Dialogue (TED) Program?

The Transatlantic Educators Dialogue (TED) Program is a one of a kind opportunity for educators in the United States and Europe to come together online for shared exploration and examination of a variety of educational topics, such as global collaboration, supporting diverse learning needs, parental involvement, and technology in the classroom.

TED represents a unique experience in educational diplomacy and facilitates the exploration of new and diverse cultures. It is also a fantastic chance to build networks with fellow educators and foster global learning opportunities. 2025 marks the 16th year of the Transatlantic Education Dialogue program and we are excited to welcome a new cohort of teachers into the TED alumni network.

If you have participated in the TED program in the past, please consider applying for the TED Fellows Program (Click here for more information).

Who is involved with TED?

A total of 35-40 educators in the United States and Europe will be involved.

Participants may be current teachers, pre-service teacher education students, school administrators, graduate students, and education faculty.

Where does TED meet?

Participants can participate anywhere they are located, provided they have access to the internet. Program sessions are synchronous; group collaborations and discussion board responses take place asynchronously. TED focuses on collaboration and dialogue. This is at the forefront of everything we do.

Synchronous sessions take place weekly for ninety minutes using Zoom. This online application enables registered participants to simultaneously communicate with classmates by using microphones connected to their computers, typing into a shared chat-rooms, and using webcams and other capabilities to upload videos and picture images. 

Prior to each weekly session, participants will respond to thematic essential questions to initiate the conversations and represent diverse U.S. and European perspectives on the weekly topics. Articles, videos, and various other resources will be shared throughout the course.

Participants can share resources with other participants, post comments on topic-specific forums, and send messages to other participants.

Participants will meet on Zoom for 10 Sundays (January 14, 2024-March 17, 2024) at 12:00-1:30 pm (U.S. Central Time Zone), 5:00-6:30 pm (Greenwich Mean Time). 

Why participate in TED?

• Learn about educational systems and realities in diverse cultural and policy contexts
• Network with transatlantic counterparts
• Access to opportunities for career development, professional reflection, and growth, acknowledged in an official capacity at the end of the program
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills, with a focus on making connections between current events and material covered in our discussions
• Share experiences with other educators, maintain connections with other participants, and have your students engage in online classroom exchanges
• Upon successful completion of the program, all participants will receive a Certification of Completion indicating the number of program hours (15). 
• Illinois teachers interested in receiving Professional Development Hours (PDH) from the University of Illinois for this program must contact the program coordinator in advance. U.S. teachers not from Illinois may use this program to register for professional development credit in their home states. 

How much does TED cost?

There is no cost to participate in TED.

TED 2024 Schedule of Sessions

Please double-check the session start time for your time zone here.

Here is what participants from the 2024 TED program had to say:

"Participating in the TED program transformed my approach to teaching. It not only broadened my perspective on global educational practices but also enriched my curriculum with diverse, culturally-aware content. The opportunity to collaborate with educators across the Atlantic fostered a unique exchange of ideas, methodologies, and experiences that I've since integrated into my classroom, making my teaching more engaging and relevant for my students. This experience has been invaluable in my professional development, enhancing my ability to prepare students for a globalized world." - Jeff Swisher (Social Studies Teacher, United States)

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"I realize now how lucky I have been to be selected as a participant for TED. To me, TED is a transformative experience. It feels like I travelled to the US and various European countries. It is a unique experience for teachers to develop not only their pedagogical skills, but also the cultural and social ones. You get the chance to see how the educational systems work in the US and around Europe and compare with the one in your own country. You simply get inspired by the dedicated teachers you get to meet virtually. It is fantastic that during the course there are guest speakers who broaden our horizons in terms of methodology, culture, opportunities. I wholeheartedly recommend TED to those who wish to become better versions of themselves and, eventually, better professionals.  I am profoundly grateful for this experience! Do not hesitate to apply for TED! Go for it!" - Olga Isac (German Language Teacher, Moldova)

"The Transatlantic Educator’s Dialogue Program was an amazing opportunity to learn about education in a global arena and also develop newfound friends and professional colleagues. The program was extremely welcoming and allowed us to engage in many well-planned and facilitated discussions. The overarching topics allowed educators from K-College to participate and learn from peers. I highly recommend this program if you are interested in learning more about education worldwide." - Christine Anne Royce (Professor of Education, United States)

For further information, please contact the TED Moderator, Dr. Rhett Oldham (jmoldham@illinois.edu).

Sponsored by the European Union Center and College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The EU Center is a National Resource Center funded through the US Department of Education’s Title VI Grant and a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence funded through the European Union.