Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will host a developmental workshop titled “Teaching About the Arab World and Islam” on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 29 and 30. Registration for the workshop is free with preference given to middle and high school teachers; the deadline to register is Oct. 28 and there is a 35-person limit on enrollment.
The focus of the workshop is on the content of and strategies for teaching about the Arab world, the Middle East and Islam, and the sessions will cover cultural geography, history, family, women, the modern times and more. The workshop will be presented by Audrey Shabbas, the founder and executive director of Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services (AWAIR).
AWAIR is a group of educators committed to developing quality materials and services for other educators who are teaching their precollege-level students about the Arab World and Islam. The group’s stated mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the region and its faith through educational outreach.
According to Alan Godlas, professor of religion and director of the UGA Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World, Shabbas has probably presented more programs for educators on the Middle East and Islam than anyone in the country.
“I do not know anyone more skilled than Ms. Shabbas at presenting such programs,” said Godlas. “Especially keeping in mind the crises in Iraq and Israel/Palestine, her workshop is particularly relevant.”
Shabbas’ curriculum works The Arab World Notebook and A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace are highly acclaimed and state-adopted in many places. The AWAIR workshops have been conducted across the country from California to Maryland and also have received high praise.
According to the California Council for the Social Studies, the workshops feature “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” and “materials that have the power to exorcise stereotypes and replace them with understandings.”
In addition to a hands-on art project designed to help participants learn about the curriculum in Shabbas’ books, the workshop will also feature the 500-page Arab World Studies Notebook, which provides duplicate masters and lesson plans in 29 subject areas. The notebook, which retails for $49.95, is provided at no cost to workshop participants. Special attention will be paid to teaching strategies in the utilization of a variety of approaches.
Guest teacher Sylvia Godlas, artist and author of AWAIR curricula, will present an art demonstration and narrate a slide presentation from her book Doorways to Islamic Art.
The workshop will take place in UGA’s Office of International Affairs conference room (Barrow Hall, room 215B) from 6 until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Middle East Policy Council arranges for teachers to receive continuing education credit for attending.
“Teaching About the Arab World and Islam” is sponsored by UGA’s Center for Asian Studies and the Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World, the University System of Georgia Council for the Middle East, and the Middle East Policy Council.
To register for the workshop, contact Betty McGlashan at 706/296-6942.
