Workshops

Upcoming Workshops

Spring 2013

Global Issues Through Literature: Middle East- Conflict- Conflict Resolution

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Time: 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: 4217 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here

This workshop is the third in a series of six workshops focusing on different global issues and how educators can use literature to further explore the topic. This workshop will focus on the Middle East and the topic of changing identities. Dr. Sami Hermez, UCIS Visiting Professor in Contemporary International Issues will discuss the novel In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar. “Libya, 1979. Nine-year-old Suleiman’s days are circumscribed by the narrow rituals of childhood: outings to the ruins surrounding Tripoli, games with friends played under the burning sun, exotic gifts from his father’s constant business trips abroad. But his nights have come to revolve around his mother’s increasingly disturbing bedside stories full of old family bitterness. Suleiman is soon caught up in a world he cannot hope to understand—where the sound of the telephone ringing becomes a portent of grave danger; where his mother frantically burns his father’s cherished books; where a stranger full of sinister questions sits outside in a parked car all day; where his best friend’s father can disappear overnight, next to be seen publicly interrogated on state television.”
Participants will receive a copy of the novel once they have registered. Act 48-credit will be given at the end of the series.

Hollywood and History: Using Popular Culture to Teach Social Studies

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Time: 5 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: 4130 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

This workshop, presented by Dr. Soren Fanning of Robert Morris University, is designed to emphasize both the advantages and pitfalls of historical dramas and popular documentaries, not only for history teachers, but teachers of civics, sociology, and current events. Teachers will address the impact of visual media on learning and memory, the difference between events we see and those we recall, and the types of learning objectives the visual media can enhance. Historical films, documentaries, and miniseries will be the main items examined by both Dr. Fanning and the attendees. This workshop is being offered for 3 ACT 48 credits, and is co-sponsored by Global Solutions Pittsburgh

South Africa Today

Date: Friday March 22- Sunday March 24
Location: Room TBA, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

As a rising state in the world economy and with a rich history and culture, South Africa’s status is shifting. South AfricaToday is a three day mini course, consisting of 14 hours of classes over a weekend. The course will open with two keynote lectures on Friday evening on an overview of the issues. This will be followed by instructional lectures on Saturday on the various themes by experts in the fields. Sunday morning will be a discussion of two case studies and a panel discussion by the speakers on future challenges, and some possible projections/ recommendations. Teachers will receive ACT 48 credit and a free copy of the textbook.

Muslims in a Global Context: The Gulf States and Iran

Date: Friday, April 5- Sunday April 7, 2013
Time: Firday 5 p.m. – Sunday 12:30 p.m.
Location: Giant Eagle Auditorium, Baker Hall A 51, Carnegie Mellon University
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

This mini-course is part of a series organized by regions around world based on their role on the world stage, their importance within the Muslim world, and the critical influence they play in the global community, The series and course seeks to illuminate the various perspectives of the Muslim Community around the world. It is anticipated that many issues and complexities will be woven in the course discussion such as US involvement in various regions. Drawing upon the expertise and research of participating faculty from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh and our partners at institutions around the world the mini course series seeks to have students gain understanding of the religious, culture, economics and political influences of Muslims in a global context. Teachers will receive ACT 48 credit and a free copy of the textbook.

Global Issues Through Literature: Asia- Changing Identities

Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Time: 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: 4217 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here

This workshop is the fourth in a series of six workshops focusing on different global issues and how educators can use literature to further explore the topic. This workshop will focus on the Asia and the topic of changing identities. Dr. Diana Wood, Enrichment & Outreach Coordinator, National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) will discuss the novel Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin. “When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, her family begins a desperate search to find her. Yet as long-held secrets and private sorrows begin to reveal themselves, they are forced to wonder: how well did they actually know the woman they called Mom? Told through the piercing voices and urgent perspectives of a daughter, son, husband, and mother, Please Look After Mom is at once an authentic picture of contemporary life in Korea and a universal story of family love.
Participants will receive a copy of the novel once they have registered. Act 48-credit will be given at the end of the series.

Global Issues Through Literature: Latin America Changing Identities

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Time: 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: 4217 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information:Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here:

This workshop is the fifth in a series of six workshops focusing on different global issues and how educators can use literature to further explore the topic. This workshop will focus on Latin America and the topic of changing identities. Dr. Karen Gloldman, Assistant Director of Outreach for the Center for Latin American Studies will discuss the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold by ‪Gabriel Garcia Marquez. “A man returns to the town where a baffling murder took place 27 years earlier, determined to get to the bottom of the story. Just hours after marrying the beautiful Angela Vicario, everyone agrees, Bayardo San Roman returned his bride in disgrace to her parents. Her distraught family forced her to name her first lover; and her twin brothers announced their intention to murder Santiago Nasar for dishonoring their sister. Yet if everyone knew the murder was going to happen, why did no one intervene to stop it? The more that is learned, the less is understood, and as the story races to its inexplicable conclusion, an entire society--not just a pair of murderers—is put on trial.  Participants will receive a copy of the novel once they have registered. Act 48-credit will be given at the end of the series.

PAST EVENTS AY 2012-13

Spring 2013

A History of Terrorism

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
Time: 5:00pm- 7:30 pm
Location: 4130 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

Terrorism is one of the forces defining our age, but it has also been around since some of the earliest civilizations. This one-of-a-kind study of the history of terrorism — from ancient Assyria to the post-9/11 War on Terror — puts terrorism into broad historical, political, religious and social context. Visiting scholar, Dr. Randy Law (Birmingham- Southern College) will lead the participants through the shifting understandings and definitions of terrorism through the ages, and its continuous development of themes allows for a fuller understanding of the uses of and responses to terrorism.

The study of terrorism is constantly growing and ever changing. Prof. Law will give teachers access to this rich field through the most up-to-date research combined with a much-needed long-range historical perspective. He extensively covers jihadism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Northern Ireland and the Ku Klux Klan plus lesser known movements in Uruguay, Algeria and even the pre-modern uses of terror in ancient Rome, medieval Europe and the French Revolution, among other topics.

The first twenty teachers to register will receive a copy of Prof. Law’s book.

Global Issues Through Literature: Russia- Teaching Amerika to American Students: Global Communication and Recent Russian Literature

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Time: 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: 4130 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here

This workshop is the second in a series of six workshops focusing on different global issues and how educators can use literature to further explore the topic. This workshop will focus on Russia and the topic of communication and technology. The presenters will discuss the collections of short stories in Amerika: Russian Writers View the United States. "This collection of beautifully written and entertaining literary essays by a wide range of Russian writers - young and old, funny and sombre, angry and celebratory, many being translated for the first time - offers readers a unique chance to see Americans in a whole new light, to question how the American dream stands up to the American reality, and to experience the wit and generosity of today's Russian writers."
Participants will receive a copy of the novel once they have registered. Act 48 credit will be given at the end of the series.

Fall 2012

India Today

Date: Friday October 26- Sunday October 28
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, 100 Porter Hall
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

As a rising state in the world economy and with a rich history and culture, India’s status is shifting. India Today is a three day mini course, consisting of 14 hours of classes over a weekend. The course will open with two keynote lectures on Friday evening on an overview of the issues. This will be followed by instructional lectures on Saturday on the various themes by experts in the fields. Sunday morning will be a discussion of two case studies and a panel discussion by the speakers on future challenges, and some possible projections/ recommendations. Teachers will receive ACT 48 credit and a free copy of the textbook.

Building a Culture of Peace in Pittsburgh Classrooms

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: 4130 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information and to register contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu

Varghese Chakkummootil, Founder of Daya Center for Peace, will share his experience building peace in some of the most conflict-torn regions of the world. He will speak about peace initiatives that focus on building relationships and breaking cycles of violence, which can be used locally and internationally. Mr. Chakkummootil has worked with students and teachers from around the world to create a culture of peace in the classroom and gives teachers skills and tools to help students build peace and learn tolerance. Specific skills he will teach are: The Non-Violent Communication method, which helps individuals express themselves and get what they want in a respectful way that doesn't hurt others; Tools to reach the root of the problem, which will help teachers and students solve intractable issues; as well as a host of other skills and theories that are part of the Conflict Transformation methodology that goes beyond resolving the conflict to rebuilding broken relationships.

World on Trial: 2004 French Headscarf Law Teachers' Workshop

Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: 4130 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here

In 2004, the French government banned the conspicuous display of religious symbols in public schools. This most notably affected the rights of young Muslim women to wear traditional headscarves or other forms of cover. This workshop will investigate the legal and ethical implications of the decision and include a discussion of the French and Islamic perspective. The Global Studies Center and the Center for Global Studies at Penn State is pleased to offer professional development workshops for practicing K-12 classroom teachers.

Global Issues Through Literature: Europe and Immigration

Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Time: 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: 4209 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information: Contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu
To register click here

This workshop is the first in a series of six workshops focusing on different global issues and how educators can use literature to further explore the topic. The first workshop will focus on Europe and the topic of immigration. Dr. Bernard Hagerty will discuss the novel Bruno, Chief of Police, by the journalist Martin Walker. It is a remarkable portrayal of the new, multicultural French countryside. North African immigrants are central to the plot and are portrayed in an evenhanded and nuanced way, and rural people themselves appear as a pressured minority. History matters, and the EU is omnipresent.
Participants will receive a copy of the novel 2 weeks prior to the workshop. Act 48 credit will be given at the end of the series.

Muslims in a Global Context: Afghanistan, Pakistan and India

Date: Friday, November 16- Sunday, November 18
Time: Firday 5 p.m. – Sunday 12:30 p.m.
Location: 2400 Sennot Square, University of Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here

This mini-course is part of a series organized by regions around world based on their role on the world stage, their importance within the Muslim world, and the critical influence they play in the global community, The series and course seeks to illuminate the various perspectives of the Muslim Community around the world. It is anticipated that many issues and complexities will be woven in the course discussion such as US involvement in various regions or the historical context of Israel and Palestine. Drawing upon the expertise and research of participating faculty from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh and our partners at institutions around the world the mini course series seeks to have students gain understanding of the religious, culture, economics and political influences of Muslims in a global context. Teachers will receive ACT 48 credit and a free copy of the textbook.

Annual Workshops

Model United Nations This event brings Pittsburgh high school students to the University of Pittsburgh for simulations of sessions of the United Nations. It is an opportunity for students to apply prior research and studies in a real-world context and practice diplomacy, negotiating, and resolution writing. Sponsors include the Global Studies Center, Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian and East European Studies, European Studies Center, European Union Center of Excellence, International Business Center, and Global Solutions Education Fund. (Fall) Read more at www.pitt.edu/~modelun/.

International Connections This event invites Pittsburgh public high school minority students to the University of Pittsburgh to learn about international opportunities in higher education. Sponsored by the Global Studies Center, African Studies Program, Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian and East European Studies, European Studies Center, European Union Center of Excellence, International Business Center, and Study Abroad Office. (Spring)