2011 Teacher Summer Institute on Africa

The theme for this summer is "Engaging Youth Culture"

About the Teacher Summer Institute

The Teacher Summer Institute draws participants to KU from Kansas, the Great Plains, and the nation each summer for a concentrated time of learning about how to better incorporate African studies into the classroom. As one of 12 National Resource Centers for African Studies funded by the U.S. Department of Education, a primary focus of our mission is to promote the study of Africa in the state, the region, and the nation.

Interactive Sessions

These sessions provide a stimulating introduction to African cultures; we aim for at least one interactive session each day.

Tentative sessions:

Mini-Lessons in Ki-Swahili
Arabic Calligraphy
West African Drumming
African Textiles
African Dance

Specialized Sessions

African studies researchers will offer specialized lectures. We aim for one or two formal lectures a day and will vary the format by also offering "dialogues" between researchers and roundtable discussions.

Tentative sessions:

Roundtable on Heritage Learners
Dialogue on African Children's Literature
Lecture on African Americans' Views of Africa

Children's Author

Véronique Tadjo, a celebrated children's author, winner of the UNICEF Prize and the Grand Prize for Black African Literature, will be coming from South Africa to conduct a workshop with us on African children's literature. Each teacher that attends the workshop will receive a copy of one of Tadjo's books to bring back to their school's library.

Beyond the Institute, Tadjo will also host a workshop for youth age 13 and up at the Lawrence Arts Center on how to write and illustrate children's literature. We will be soliciting nominations of outstanding student writers and illustrators for this workshop. Please check our website for future announcements!

Breakout Sessions

At the end of each day, we have set aside time and space to allow teachers to collaborate and discuss how to incorporate the content from the day's presentations into the classroom, with a focus on aligning specialized African studies content with state standards.

More Information

Renowned speakers, experienced faculty and Center staff provide specialized content and work with teachers to develop relevant teaching modules. Teachers are also exposed to library and museum resources that can help them bring Africa into their own classrooms, including a session with Shiferaw Assefa, our professional Africana Librarian. By the end of the institute, teachers are able to develop their own resource packets. Throughout the Institute, teachers will collaborate to ensure their resources are aligned with state curriculum standards.

The institute will be listed as AAAS 680 "Introduction to Modern Africa" and AAAS 690 "Investigation and Conferences" and can be taken for undergraduate or graduate credits. Teachers may register for the institute without registering for the official course, in which case they will not pay tuition and will only be required to pay a materials fee of $20. Financial support is also available.

Following the Institute, teachers will have the opportunity to be part of an ongoing virtual community, where they can share materials and discuss teaching strategies with colleagues in various school districts.

Registration forms must be received by June 3, 2011. All participants will be asked to pay a $20 materials fee, which can be sent to our mailing address or be paid on the first day of the Institute.

Limited financial awards are available. Those seeking financial support must register by May 15, 2011 and also send a letter of application. The letter should explain your interest in attending the Institute as well as provide an outline of your expected expenses. Letters should be sent to kasc@ku.edu.

Housing assistance is also available (in the form of dorm rooms). We can help you locate alternative lodgings if you prefer not to stay in dorms. If you would like housing assistance, please inform us immediately and by May 6, 2011 at the latest so that we can reserve space for you. You may send an email to kasc@ku.edu for housing inquiries.