Elementary Education: Experiencing NZ Educ & Culture

Travel course that offers current educators and graduate students the opportunity to explore English and Maori educational facilities in and around Auckland, New Zealand. Educators will explore New Zealand culture, the Ministry of Education's current educational direction, and the cultural integration of Maori and Pakeha education. Participants will visit approximately nine different primary/intermediate schools. These schools will reflect the various decile levels present in New Zealand Education.

Spring travel course. GoAbroad deadline: 11/6/2025. In-country dates: 2/23/2026-3/6/2026 Location: New Zealand. Instructor permission only. Program fees: $3,230-$450 deposit. Out of pocket expenses (approx. $611) are additional; Airfare is additional cost; Tuition not included in program fee. Open to Graduate/PACE students.

This travel course offers practicing educators and existing education graduate students the opportunity to explore English and Māori educational facilities in and around Auckland, New Zealand. Educators will explore New Zealand culture, the Ministry of Education's current educational direction, and the cultural integration of Māori and Pākehā education. Participants will visit approximately nine different primary/intermediate schools. These schools will reflect the various decile levels present in New Zealand Education. In addition, participants will shadow a current New Zealand educator for a partial day to become immersed in the educational culture. Participants will explore and learn Māori culture through in-person course work with Auckland University of Technology, local and national museums, and visit culturally important sites. New Zealand education offers an interesting lens through which participants can examine the historical colonization of Indigenous cultures and the current duo-culture that defines New Zealand education.

After completing this course, students will be able to: Understand the organization, indigenous cultural integration, and various approaches to the education of primary and intermediate children in New Zealand. Understand and experience the elements that define Māori culture. Observe and experience how the New Zealand Ministry of Education has integrated Māori and Pākehā students. Contrast the impact of multi-cultural and mono-cultural teaching practices. Develop an action plan to enhance the current workplace educational experience for each participant's students and/or colleagues.

Note: This is a travel study course running for Vermont Teachers and graduate students only. The travel runs from February 21 thru March 6. This aligns with the public school break, not the UVM spring break.