Teaching about the Arab
World and Islam
Staff Development Workshop
for Middle and High School
Teachers
Attention:
Time changed to the current listing, and now, thanks to the sponsors, there is
no charge to attend.
Friday
(6-9 pm) & Saturday (9-5 pm) - October 29 & 30, 2004
Office
of International Affairs Conference Room Registration
Fee: free
Room
215B, Barrow Hall University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Presented by Audrey
Shabbas, the founder and executive director of
AWAIR (Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services). Audrey has presented perhaps
more programs
on the Middle East and Islam for educators than anyone in the
country. Her curriculum works The Arab World
Notebook and A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace
are highly acclaimed and state adopted in many places. Also, guest teacher,
artist and author of AWAIR curricula, Sylvia Godlas, will present an art
demonstration and narrate the slide presentation from her book Doorways
to Islamic Art.
"Recognizing that no work is of greater importance than the
preparation of our young people for their roles as thoughtful and informed
citizens of the twenty-first century, and recognizing too that U.S. involvement
with the Arab World and with the wider world of Islam is certain to remain
close for many years, AWAIR's goal is to increase awareness and understanding
of this world region and this world faith through educational outreach at the
pre-collegiate level."
Arab World and Islamic Resources www.awaironline.org
The
focus of the workshop is on the content and strategies for teaching about the Arab
world, the Middle East and Islam, covering the subjects of cultural geography,
history, family, women, the modern times, as well as many others. There will also be a hands-on art project
learning about the exciting curriculum "A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra
Palace." The 500 page Arab
World Studies Notebook provides
duplicate masters and lesson plans in 29 subject areas. The notebook, which retails for $49.95, is
provided at no cost to teachers.
Special attention is paid to teaching strategies in the utilization of a
variety of approaches. The lesson plans
were created, modeling the following pedagogic strategies and philosophies:
teaching across-the-curriculum, hands-on experiences, critical thinking, higher
thinking level skills, performance based assessment, student generated
assessment, exhibition and knowledge for understanding. The Middle East
Policy Council arranges for
teachers to receive continuing education credit for attending.
"Sophisticated lesson plans that
relate the Arab World to students' lives. . . . readings that frankly explore
the cultural puzzles that many of our textbooks only mention. . . materials
that have the power to exorcise stereotypes and replace them with
understandings." California Council for the Social Studies
"Our workshop was a smashing
success. Several teachers with more than twenty years of teaching experience
stated that it was the best workshop they had ever attended. . . Audrey Shabbas
is extremely knowledgeable, has a great style of delivery, a warm sense of
humor, and some of the best curriculum materials I have ever seen." Social Studies
Supervisor, Midland, TX
"I don't believe I have been to any
conference that was so relevant and substantive!' Teacher, Cockeysville, MD
Sponsored
by the
Middle East Policy Council, the Center for Asian Studies
(UGA),
the
UGA Virtual
Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic
World,
and the
University System of
Georgia Council for the Middle East
The workshop is limited to 35 participants (preference
will be given to teachers).
The deadline
for registration is October 28, 2004.
To register call Betty
McGlashan (706) 296-6942