Teaching and Learning
in Times of Conflict and Crisis
Our
society has entered an era when we witness war, terrorism,
disease, poverty, environmental destruction and other significant
crises through a 24/7 media cycle. Living through these events
in real time penetrates our hearts and minds and creates within
us personal motivations to participate in decision-making
and to influence the outcome of situations in ways previous
generations could not.
Many of
today's crises making news headlines and grasping public attention
are underdeveloped subjects of study in K-12 education. An
educator does not have to look far to find a local or global
conflict or crisis to study. The
larger question for educators is one of pedagogy and practice. On top of helping themselves make sense of such crises as
individuals and citizens, we, as educators, also bear the
additional responsibility of shaping these events in a professional
form and structure appropriate for a K-12 learning environment.
Global
Source has begun a series of programs and projects to examine
and address the role and responsibility of education in times
of crisis and conflict.
* What
are the teachable moments and opportunities for global, social
and civic education that these circumstances ultimately present?
* Schools have recently developed plans to deal with safety
and security during emergencies and disasters, but are they
prepared to deal with teaching and learning during these same
crises?
*
What the models for teaching and learning can we develop that
responsively and responsibly address an emerging and fluid
conflict or crisis impacting our local or global community?
* How can studying about these modern realities help young
people be better prepared to address them as citizens, locally
and globally?
PAST PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
AND CURRICULUM PROJECTS
Beyond September 11 Project
As part of Global Source's initiative to encourage an educational
exploration of issues surrounding the tragedy of September
11, 2001, we collaborated on a web based curriculum project aimed at sustaining
a desire to teach and learn about the atrocities of this event
and its aftermath.
For
every American teacher the tragedy of September 11, 2001 presented
one of the greatest personal and professional challenges of
a lifetime: How to cope with the psychological and social
repercussions of the terrorist attacks? How to address the
imperative questions? How to help students put these events
into meaningful perspective? The Beyond September 11 Project
was formed to sustain this desire to learn and encourage an
on-going exploration of the issues, especially to place them
in a historical and global context. The
goal was to provide an opportunity for educators and students
to examine the relationship between identity and culture,
foster constructive dialogue, and build a safe, secure, and
reflective environment in order for all to learn and develop.
The
effort produced the following web-based curricular lessons
and activities:
*
Human Rights through the Art of Storytelling
*
Identity and Society
*
Media Literacy: the Challenge of 9/11
*
Remembering 9/11/02: Ideas for the School Community
*
Taking the Human Rights Temperature of Your School
The Beyond September 11 project is a consortium of educators representing
Facing History and Ourselves, Global Source Education, Stanley
Foundation, University of Minnesota Human Rights Center, and
World Affairs Council of San Francisco.
Education in Times of Global and Local Crisis
Democracy, Civic Life and Our Schools
A Dialogue and Forum for Northwest educators, featuring
noted educator and author Herbert Kohl. Co-sponsored and hosted
by the Center for Programs in Education at Antioch University
Seattle
Lessons from September 11
Uncovering the Meaning of Education in a Time of Crisis
A professional development workshop for Puget Sound area
educators three months following the tragedy of September
11, 2001. Panel presentations addressed professional responsibility
in times of crisis, media literacy in the aftermath of 9/11,
and Islamic identity post 9/11. Produced by Global Source
and The Heritage Institute, hosted by Antioch University Seattle.
Issues of International Intervention
What Educators Are Saying About Global Source Programs
