Developing a National Geographic Explorer Mindset in Your Classroom

Course Journal

Use this course journal to collect your ideas and responses as you complete this course. When you have finished the course, you may
want to share these ideas in the private Explorer Mindset facebook group.

Part 1: Understanding the Explorer Mindset

A Community of Educators

What did you notice that was interesting or notable about the locations and backgrounds of your fellow participants in this course? If
you had one question you could ask this community, what would it be?

The Explorer Mindset: The Attitudes and Skills of a National Geographic Explorer

What attitudes and skills do Thandiwe Mweetwa and Henry Mwape demonstrate?
 Attitudes:

 Skills:

Which of these attitudes and skills are important for educators to cultivate in their students? Why?

The National Geographic Learning Framework: Attitudes and Skills Table

1
NATGEOED.ORG Page
ATTITUDES How did Thandiwe Mweetwa and Henry What student behaviors demonstrate each
Mwape demonstrate each attitude? attitude?

CURIOSITY
An Explorer remains curious about how the world
works throughout his or her life.
An Explorer is adventurous, seeking out new and
challenging experiences.

RESPONSIBILITY
An Explorer has concern for the welfare of other
people, cultural resources, and the natural world.
An Explorer is respectful, considers multiple
perspectives, and honors others regardless of
differences.

EMPOWERMENT
An Explorer acts on curiosity, respect,
responsibility, and adventurousness and persists
in the face of challenges.

SKILLS How did Thandiwe Mweetwa and Henry What student behaviors demonstrate each
Mwape demonstrate each attitude? skill?

2
NATGEOED.ORG Page
 OBSERVATION
An Explorer notices and documents the world
around her or him and is able to make sense of
those observations.

COMMUNICATION
An Explorer is a storyteller, communicating
experiences and ideas effectively through
language and media. An Explorer has literacy
skills, interpreting and creating new
understanding from spoken language, writing, and
a wide variety of visual and audio media.

COLLABORATION
An Explorer works effectively with others to
achieve goals.

PROBLEM SOLVING
An Explorer is able to generate, evaluate, and
implement solutions to problems. An Explorer is a
capable decision maker - able to identify
alternatives and weigh trade-offs to make a well-
reasoned decision.

Part 2: Fostering an Explorer Mindset in Your Students

3
NATGEOED.ORG Page
The Explorer Mindset in the Classroom Chart

As you view your selected educator’s Capstone video, think about how the educator’s students demonstrated the attitudes and skills of
a National Geographic Explorer. How did the educator foster that attitude or skill in this project?

Attitude or Skill How do the students demonstrate this attitude or How did the teacher foster that attitude or skill in
skill? this project?

Part 3: Stay Connected and Keep Learning

Charting Your Learning Journey

4
NATGEOED.ORG Page
Take a minute to think about the opportunities National Geographic Education offers, including content for classrooms, professional
learning for educators, and communities where educators can connect and share. Bring these ideas to the Explorer Mindset
community on Facebook.

 What is your destination? In the next few years, what do you hope you and your students be doing to illuminate and protect the
wonder of our world?

 How can National Geographic help you, as an educator, reach this destination?

 What is your next step with National Geographic Education? Which opportunities will you engage with and why?

5
NATGEOED.ORG Page