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Past events

Puppets in Asia Saturday, October 3, 2009

More than thirty K-12 teachers attended the workshop to learn about puppet traditions of Southeast Asia, India, and Japan. The workshop featured a hands-on presentation with actual puppets and lecture by Beth Osnes, CU professor of Theatre and Dance; a mini-performance of Bunraku; and curriculum demonstrations by staff of the Program for Teaching East Asia (TEA) and the South, Southeast and West Asia (SSEWA) Outreach Program.

Saturday, May 2, 2009: Kites Across Asia Workshop

A K-12 exploration of kites across Asia through literature and hands-on kite-making. Highlights include East Asian, Central Asia, and Himalayan kite-craft and stories that motivate boys to read

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 (8:30am- 3:00pm): China and India as Global Economic Leaders Workshop

In two content sessions, this workshop examined the rapid economic development of these two countries over the last three decades, looking at the role domestic economic reforms, new technologies, and increasing integration into the global economy have all played in these transformations. We explored the political and social contexts that have served as foundations of China and India's economic growth while also presenting liabilities for each country's future. The sessions concluded by considering China's and India's goals for continuing economic growth, military growth, and economic influence and how these goals may be affected by the global recession. Professor Devin Joshi of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver presented on both India and China.

Saturday, Jan 10, 2009: Religions of India Workshop 

It was a pleasure to host 20 participants mostly secondary school teachers and a couple of faculty members in an afternoon workshop to explore religions of India. It was a daunting task to explore the spiritual landscape of India within a three hour time period. Nevertheless, our invited speaker, CU Professor of Religion, Dr. Lorilliai Biernacki, made it look quite easy and fun to examine and learn it. In a two part sessions, Dr. Biernacki led us through the maze of Indic religious traditions including: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The theme of the workshop was religious pluralism in India. More specifically, we looked at identical depiction, expression and approaches to experience the divine in these traditions.
Participants watched clips from an educational video titled “Beliefs made visible” a video produced by San Francisco based Asian Art Museum, which is an exquisite visual exploration Hinduism and Buddhism narrated by local Bay Area Indian community members. The teachers received curriculum materials, including the DVD they watched and articles and handouts on the subject.

Monday, Dec 1, 2008: School Life in Asia K-8 Educator Workshop Series: School Life in India

The Program for South, Southeast, and West Asia (SSEWA) hosted an early evening K-12 teacher workshop on School Life in India, on December 1. The workshop was attended by 23 K-8 teachers including both elementary and secondary teachers. Participants received a lecture on Indian culture and history from Professor of Hindi, Laura Brueck, followed by an introductory Hindi 101 language lesson.

They watched clips from two documentary videos titled Going to School in India and 2 Million Minutes about everyday school life in India, the former specifically shown for elementary and the latter for secondary teachers. The teachers also enjoyed synopses of a classic Bollywood classic film about school life in India. A catered Indian meal was served and the teachers received curriculum materials, including both the DVDs they watched and a book to supplement Going to School in India.

Saturday, Oct 4th, 2008: Central Asia: Between Peril and Promise

History workshop and Cultural Celebration for high school teachers at the University of Colorado and THE BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE Saturday, October 4th 2:30-8:00 pm with Professor John Schoeberlein Director, Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus at Harvard University.

Dynamic socio-political movements, development issues, abundant natural resources and the history and growth of Islam are just a few reasons that Central Asia is a region of increasing global significance. Gain insight into the dynamic and rich history and culture of the most diverse regions of the world. After the afternoon workshop, celebrate over twenty-five years of friendship and exchange between Boulder, Colorado and Dushanbe, Tajikistan in a grand Persian feast. Listen to the stories of city council and local business owners who just returned from dedicating Boulder’s “gift” to Dushanbe, a state-of-the-art Cyber Café in the heart of the capital. Highlights include a talk with Boulder Mayor Shaun McGrath and Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities President Don Mock, performance by world music trio Musical Missions, and other delights. Don’t miss this exciting cultural event! Participants will also receive full published curriculum and DVD from the Stanford Program on International and Cultural Education. $30 registration fee covers cost of Persian feast and curriculum. This workshop is offered by the South, Southeast and West Asia Outreach Program at the Center for Asian Studies.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008: ARTS OF THE SILK ROAD

SSEWA and the Program for Teaching East Asia collaboratively offered the final "Arts of Asia in the Classroom" workshop at the Denver Art Museum. In this workshop, scholars Judith Frey and Stephen Whiteman traced a medieval journey along the Silka gallery tours of the Asian Art wing. Curriculum and teaching materials were also provided.

Saturday, January 26, 2008: SPICE, RICE, AND DAILY LIFE: A K-12 Educator Workshop on Southeast Asian Society, Culture and Cuisine

Third in the "Asian Arts in the Classroom" series, the "SPICE, RICE AND DAILY LIFE" K-12 Educator workshop featured CU Economics Professor Robert McNown, a 2007 Fulbright Scholar in Vietnam, and his wife, CU Political Science Professor Lauri McNown,who shared their experience of modern-day Vietnam from economic, historical, political, cultural and humanistic perspectives. Native Thai chef Toi McDaniel offered a two-hour hands-on gourmet Thai cooking demonstration. The McNown's photography and presentation, coupled with a Toi's engaging lesson on Thai cuisine, illuminated cultural and historical details of life in Southeast Asia.

Participants also walked away with 'The Historical and Cultural Importance of Rice' a curriculum unit by the Stanford Program for International and Cultural Education, and other curriculum materials.

November 3, 2007: India Through the Lens of the Ramayana

The new South, Southeast, and West Asia (SSEWA) Outreach Program at the Center for Asian Studies launched its first K-12 teacher outreach initiative with “Teaching about Islam: Regional and Cultural Variations in South, Southeast, and West Asia.”  The workshop provided an introduction to Islam and contextualized understandings of the practice and influence of Islam in three culturally diverse regions of Asia. Designed for secondary school teachers, the workshop addressed questions and content from the National Standards for World History. Many thanks to all participants and professors. Stay tuned for another Teaching About Islam workshop in Spring 2008.

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The Center for Asian Studies
University of Colorado at Boulder
CB 366, Boulder, CO 80309-0366
e-mail: Center for Asian Studies