A Learning Journey Around the World

In today's world, working collaboratively with people from different cultural backgrounds is a necessity, especially with contemporary patterns of migration, the interconnectedness of the global economy, and the complexity of collective challenges like environmental degradation and rising extremism. At the same time, public discourse is increasingly divisive and laden with stereotypes and mistrust. Now more than ever, we need to offer students opportunities to engage meaningfully with people who have different perspectives and life experiences from their own.

Out of Eden Learn, a project that I codirect, has taken an innovative approach to promoting cross-cultural inquiry and exchange. Developed by Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and in collaboration with Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow, it combines the appeal of social media with the concept of slowing down.