tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69130425097343640862024-03-05T12:28:05.571-05:00Teaching the World on a ShoestringFree or low cost resources for teaching globally. Times are tough. Teachers are tougher.Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-25244025853915159072014-10-31T08:44:00.004-04:002014-10-31T08:50:16.324-04:00Chaos Alert for Northern Half of the Western Hemisphere <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZw6FGPHy4soMJ8rmEzHS2TRBSJQ9koBLpgxPaa0dMbXSUVSopTPTCfWU-bflGeaCoYBRXKna0J9lBfV8_OMQX_P3W7681jYwnnn9gqjt5B_f3Kp5UkWIJLZ5PQQ2tVoj2xeph2vzbg/s1600/turningyourc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZw6FGPHy4soMJ8rmEzHS2TRBSJQ9koBLpgxPaa0dMbXSUVSopTPTCfWU-bflGeaCoYBRXKna0J9lBfV8_OMQX_P3W7681jYwnnn9gqjt5B_f3Kp5UkWIJLZ5PQQ2tVoj2xeph2vzbg/s1600/turningyourc.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great, AP. I'll set my alarm for that. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's that time of year again.<br />
<br />
I'm not talking about Halloween. I'm talking about the End of Daylight Saving Time, the evil twin of the Beginning of Daylight Saving Time. Oh, who am I kidding? They're each other's evil twin. <br />
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The Weekend of Confusion is at hand for us in the Northern Half of the Western Hemisphere (minus parts of Mexico, which suffered through this mess a week ago). If you live in most regions of the NH of the WH, before you go to bed on Saturday night, you must turn your clock back one hour.<br />
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Or, if you're a real purist, turn the clock back one hour at 2 am Sunday morning. <br />
<br />
Back. One hour. Not forward. Back. As in "Let's live this hour all over again."<br />
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Of course, if you live in Hawaii, most of Arizona, parts of Alaska and Indiana, parts of Canada, and selected Caribbean and Latin American countries, you must do nothing, this or any other weekend. Somehow, this turns out to be even more confusing. (Believe me, I know from experience that Bloomington, Indiana will spend the next couple of days wondering about back an hour or forward an hour, just like you will be.) <br />
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Why do we do this Daylight Saving Time spring-ahead fall-back business twice a year? Yes, it's confusing, but it's got to be worth it, isn't it?<br />
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Well, isn't it?<br />
<br />
At least it's comforting to know that we NH WH-ians are not alone in the horological horror show. Many Europeans were wandering around confused last Sunday. Australia suffered through time madness earlier this month (only it was the <i>beginning</i> of Daylight Saving Time, because, well, yes, exactly).<br />
<br />
But you may be interested to know that many Asian, African, and South American countries just
skip the whole business. Russia, for instance, doesn't go through this nonsense in any of its <i>twelve </i>time zones. So it's not as if the world will collapse if we don't mess with our clocks twice a year.<br />
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If you're looking to see who's in this clock-changing situation and who's not worldwide, you can browse <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2014.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you're a NH WH-ian, take a deep breath before calling your friends in any other world regions this weekend. Remember, you're probably just a little on edge. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtg0IdqETC8edCbYRLuZ_LCVBNkKsNDaUHI9L6us9n1K6sUiOSFE4I_dks9DXJKX61frbiEIyq1SXYXICarA70lQTtsaQ3pfI8CV_RkqDbfWHalyVznqB2ijYcUm3KA6OCnbhCODd9EQ/s1600/daylight-savings-timejpg-1943d348cc878305.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtg0IdqETC8edCbYRLuZ_LCVBNkKsNDaUHI9L6us9n1K6sUiOSFE4I_dks9DXJKX61frbiEIyq1SXYXICarA70lQTtsaQ3pfI8CV_RkqDbfWHalyVznqB2ijYcUm3KA6OCnbhCODd9EQ/s1600/daylight-savings-timejpg-1943d348cc878305.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks, <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2014/10/daylight_saving_time_2014_when.html" target="_blank">Cleveland <i>Plain Dealer</i></a>, for making things even more complicated. I understood there would be no math. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<img alt="Screen Shot 2014-10-30 at 9.42.40 PM" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-21255" src="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-30-at-9.42.40-PM.png" height="45" style="border: 0px none;" width="400" />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-76705063506503246242014-10-12T15:35:00.000-04:002014-10-12T15:39:01.198-04:00Not that it's a contest . . . . Best communication of Nobel Week? <br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Malala will make her first statement after school at 16.30/UK on her and <a href="https://twitter.com/k_satyarthi">@k_Satyarthi</a> being honored with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NobelPeacePrize?src=hash">#NobelPeacePrize</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IDG2014?src=hash">#IDG2014</a><br />
— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) <a href="https://twitter.com/MalalaFund/status/520535570947514368">October 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
Frameable. <br />
<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-30190019734645994492014-09-26T12:38:00.001-04:002014-09-26T12:43:53.914-04:00What Is It? Quick--what's this?<br />
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<img alt="http://public.media.smithsonianmag.com/legacy_blog/bigdipper-300x216.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://public.media.smithsonianmag.com/legacy_blog/bigdipper-300x216.jpg" /></div>
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<br />
If you grew up in the United States, you'll say the Big Dipper. I mean, what else could it be? It's got a bowl (those four stars on the right) and a long handle--can't you see it? <br />
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Except it could be a wagon. Or a plough. Or a saucepan. Or a salmon net. Or a canoe. Or a parrot. <br />
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It all depends on where you grew up and what you were told it was. Whatever you saw as a result of that cultural training, you'd be just as sure you were right about it, and that everyone else must just be squinting a lot.<br />
<br />
I love how even the patterns of the stars are culturally significant. This one would have been noticed by people all over the world, not only because it's so bright, but because it points to several other important landmarks, including the one we call the North Star. And its shape, well, it sure looks like something, doesn't it? That quadrilateral summons up <a href="http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/astro/asp/constellation.faq.html" target="_blank">all kinds of possibilities</a> that people saw and talked about thousands of years ago.<br />
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Human imagination is a powerful force. And so is culture. Depending on culture, each of us is more or less locked into a different default view on this pattern, and each of us assumes ours to be the "true" and "right" and "best" view. When, of course, none is more valid or invalid.than the rest. They're just seven stars that appear to us to form a pattern. <br />
<br />
I've got Big Dipper on the brain for good unless I make an effort to 1) find out what other cultures see when they look at this pattern and 2) try, at least, to see that saucepan or the parrot.<br />
<br />
Pretty sure I can see the saucepan. Still working on the parrot. <br />
<br />
Wait. Doesn't it look like a wifi router? <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/09/26/september-mygloballife-link-up/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com </i></div>
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Linked
to the My Global Life Link-Up at SmallPlanetStudio.com - See more at:
http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/09/26/september-mygloballife-link-up/#sthash.WEFKbCCv.dpuf</div>
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<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-62302891157933808122014-08-29T14:20:00.000-04:002014-08-29T14:27:03.932-04:00Hurricanes Are Global, 2014 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1prPcKuSFr58Z8ACh-yQ4myVrsUiVzW-qesLzmbkbAAckeU34MgPxNmjffb63TjebRrDa65KD7vdr-gz3NqOtCORGjO5IIJhaLDrKcSuujSHFdtw1OQ_-ylGyMkUwjO8k7N1WbWntNg/s1600/hur_floyd_19990914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1prPcKuSFr58Z8ACh-yQ4myVrsUiVzW-qesLzmbkbAAckeU34MgPxNmjffb63TjebRrDa65KD7vdr-gz3NqOtCORGjO5IIJhaLDrKcSuujSHFdtw1OQ_-ylGyMkUwjO8k7N1WbWntNg/s1600/hur_floyd_19990914.jpg" /></a></div>
When I was in elementary school in New York, the beginning of school was associated in my mind with the possibility of hurricanes. It's not unusual--New York is frequently the target of what we called "the tail" of hurricanes roaring up the East Coast just about this time every year. And usually we heard that the big bad storm had first come ashore at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.<br />
<br />
Now I live in North Carolina, and I've got a different perspective on those hurricanes. Yes, the jutting point of Cape Hatteras is frequently the first landing. But the storms come from much farther away They usually form off the coast of West Africa, and churn their way across the Atlantic, where some of them menace the Southeastern coast before making their stormy way northward. <br />
<br />
So I've come to understand that the East Coast storms of early fall are indeed global. I ruminated a bit on this point, as well as memories of Floyd and Fran, in this <a href="http://teachingtheworldonashoestring.blogspot.com/2010/08/hurricanes-are-global.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> from awhile back, at just this time of year <br />
<br />
While Marie and Cristobal churn up the waves on both coasts, and we wonder about what our season might bring in the way of tropical storms, give a thought to the global nature of our weather. (One update from my original hurricane blog post. I'm happy to say that WRAL continues with its great hurricane tracking, but the link has changed. Here it is: <a href="http://www.wral.com/weather/hurricanes/page/5878513/" target="_blank">Interactive Hurricane Tracker Map</a>) <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/08/29/august-mygloballife-link-up-add-your-blog-post/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com</i></div>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Linked
to the My Global Life Link-Up at SmallPlanetStudio.com” - See more at:
http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/08/29/august-mygloballife-link-up-add-your-blog-post/#sthash.YhIJKTRK.dpuf</div>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Linked
to the My Global Life Link-Up at SmallPlanetStudio.com” - See more at:
http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/08/29/august-mygloballife-link-up-add-your-blog-post/#sthash.YhIJKTRK.dpuf<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Linked
to the My Global Life Link-Up at SmallPlanetStudio.com” - See more at:
http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/08/29/august-mygloballife-link-up-add-your-blog-post/#sthash.YhIJKTRK.dpuf</div>
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Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-90831341130792000502014-07-25T11:08:00.002-04:002014-07-25T11:12:56.832-04:00In the Mall You may have seen this video of a little American girl hearing the Muslim call to prayer for the first time in a mall in Dubai. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Z8RGg3wpdsk" width="640"></iframe><br />
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If you don't speak three-year-old, you may have a bit of difficulty
understanding her first two comments ("That's a good voice." and
"That's a good one."). You'll probably recognize the American cultural
reference she makes (Muslim friends think that one's pretty funny). <br />
<br />
Well, who doesn't love seeing children being "totally adorbs," as one commenter put it? <br />
<br />
But I say the appeal goes deeper than that. Here's a very young person experiencing a culture not her own, and giving it all the attention and consciousness she's got. The real appeal here is the complete, rapt immersion, the opening of eyes and ears and heart. What wouldn't we give, as adults, to experience a new (to us) culture in that intense and beautiful way?<br />
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We can try. Let's resolve at least to try. <br />
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<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/07/25/july-mygloballife-link-up/">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com </i><br />
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<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-6036948082128748712014-06-27T09:12:00.001-04:002014-06-27T09:17:05.066-04:00Study Abroad--Y Not? Last week, I went to a two-day orientation at the college my youngest will be attending in the fall. Of course everyone was subjected to a deluge of information, most of which we're still numbly paging or scrolling through. (Meal plan decision when? And they register for courses--how many courses again?) <br />
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But I particularly perked up when they came to the study abroad presentation. Impressive. So many opportunities and ways to make study abroad happen for all students. So much enthusiasm on the part of the staff. And such a big change from a generation ago, when I (for one) had to make arrangements for a year abroad on my own, because <i>there was no Study Abroad Office at my college. </i><br />
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The number of US students studying abroad <a href="http://www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2013/2013-11-11-Open-Doors-Data">has tripled in the last twenty years</a>. So now everyone goes abroad sometime during college, right? <br />
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No, not quite everyone.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLOorh2RZlzYsPayOmP6wYehllgADecThnKTKFeN7b1SnBOW7m39KZGHQEzC7kgPUqsnzXZ35e8DLkjCamJI2DaOydLiSh7_Vz4h4acxNdgwrGobKItMvHczw1tIGdl47fhx2Ynndbw/s1600/XY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLOorh2RZlzYsPayOmP6wYehllgADecThnKTKFeN7b1SnBOW7m39KZGHQEzC7kgPUqsnzXZ35e8DLkjCamJI2DaOydLiSh7_Vz4h4acxNdgwrGobKItMvHczw1tIGdl47fhx2Ynndbw/s1600/XY.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Y should I study abroad? </td></tr>
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Anyone who's worked with college students realizes (and struggles to overcome) the many remaining barriers to study abroad for students--lack of funding, unfamiliarity with travel, the challenge of majors (particularly STEM) that require specific courses at specific times, the feeling that "people like me (minority, LGBT, first generation college, with disabilities, low income) just don't study abroad." </div>
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I understand how those barriers can seem insurmountable, and I've worked with colleagues in the ongoing project to eliminate them. But one underrepresented group puzzles me.<br />
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Guys.<br />
<br />
Really.<br />
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Male students fall far behind female students in study abroad by a wide margin. Even given the fact that there are more women in college than men (about 7%), the numbers are still shocking. According to a <a href="http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/US-Study-Abroad/Student-Profile/2001-12" target="_blank">study</a>
by the <a href="http://www.iie.org/" target="_blank">Institute of International Education</a>, in 2011-12 the breakdown
by gender across the US for students studying abroad was 65% female and
35% male. That's almost a 2 to 1 ratio. And in some colleges and universities, the difference is much
greater. <br />
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Is it genetic? Does that Y chromosome mean "Y should I study abroad?" <br />
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Okay, that's just silly. But the gap may indeed have something to do with how young men perceive gender identity. If study abroad is (mostly) associated with female students, especially those in the humanities, male students may (falsely) determine that it's not for them. They fall into the "people like me just don't study abroad" fallacy. And they lose out.<br />
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But there's hope. <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/">The University at Texas at Austin</a> is examining how <a href="http://world.utexas.edu/io/forms/abroad/globalaccess/session-3-male-students.pdf" target="_blank">messaging</a> about study abroad can better acknowledge what male students value in education. <a href="http://duke.edu/" target="_blank">Duke University</a> is <a href="http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2012/02/29/number-men-lacking-study-abroad-programs" target="_blank">determined to involve more male students in study abroad</a> by offering more international opportunities in engineering and the sciences, disciplines that include a larger percentage of men, and working on recruiting for foreign language studies, which is a strong predictor for study abroad.<br />
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These are good strategies, and a good start. If we believe that study abroad is a valuable, life-changing experience, then we should make sure that all students can see that "people like me study abroad."<br />
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Y not, guys? <br />
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<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screen-Shot-2014-04-25-at-7.51.06-AM.png">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com</i><br />
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Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-35277592713298752592014-05-29T15:21:00.000-04:002014-05-29T15:21:05.962-04:00Free EU online course <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLGppAavqupUo_GxcjyVBZkMjZt7kLLic6CfKjNuaG2GlJgv48jQbVr8MZtGMuQr2RZ6p2nW7FGI2IlpM_sL4DthmzYnqNLlVLlCgWbx3CaU3NoHe2mAJs7x9HtzeDwmAdRFSq7XpgA/s1600/eu+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLGppAavqupUo_GxcjyVBZkMjZt7kLLic6CfKjNuaG2GlJgv48jQbVr8MZtGMuQr2RZ6p2nW7FGI2IlpM_sL4DthmzYnqNLlVLlCgWbx3CaU3NoHe2mAJs7x9HtzeDwmAdRFSq7XpgA/s1600/eu+flag.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>We're at it again!</i><br />
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The
UNC European Union Center of Excellence and LEARN NC will be
offering The European Union – An Introduction for Teachers, an online
professional development course. The course, which runs for four weeks (June
25-July 22), provides two CEUs and lots of online resources for learning and
teaching.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
goal of this course is to introduce in-service teachers to the history and
the function of the European Union, as well as to digital resources and
methods for student learning. By the end of the course, teachers will
understand the EU as an essential part of European history, government,
economics, and culture, and will be able to facilitate learning about the EU
through use of technology.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
final project is a standards-based technology-rich lesson plan incorporating
online EU resources for each teacher’s class. Lesson plans will be submitted
to the UNC European Union Center of Excellence for possible inclusion in the
online lesson plan database.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For
more information, contact <a href="mailto:regina_higgins@unc.edu">Dr.
Regina Higgins</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Register
<a href="https://apps.research.unc.edu/events/index.cfm?event=events.eventDetails&event_key=9BA3B93B40889FD2017294CDDE2506E8A6BF91DB">here</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-70680632894997473442014-05-29T09:21:00.000-04:002014-05-30T09:21:58.695-04:00Human Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We lost a great poet this week. <a href="http://mayaangelou.com/" target="_blank">Maya Angelou</a>, whose brilliance in writing, activism, and just plain straight-out living left us gasping in admiration, has been described as a "global renaissance woman."<br />
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And how.<br />
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Worthwhile to take the time to trace that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/arts/maya-angelou-lyrical-witness-of-the-jim-crow-south-dies-at-86.html?hpw&rref=books" target="_blank">extraordinary life</a> through Stamps, Arkansas, to Egypt, to Ghana, and beyond.<br />
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And even more worthwhile to listen to the poet's voice, her testimony to what she learned about our humanity through her world travels and her extraordinary gift for living.<br />
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You can <a href="http://allpoetry.com/poem/8511441-Human-Family-by-Maya-Angelou" target="_blank">read</a> the poem, "Human Family," but I suggest you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_aHt34a-g" target="_blank">listen</a> instead.<br />
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Peace be to her valiant spirit.<br />
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<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/05/30/may-mygloballife-link-up/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com</i>Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-24783422579672216572014-05-15T11:46:00.000-04:002014-05-20T10:01:23.032-04:00Africa is Not a Country, But It Has Only One Book Cover Right now you're dashing for the end-of-the-year finish line. But make some time to take a look at this great <a href="http://africasacountry.com/the-dangers-of-a-single-book-cover-the-acacia-tree-meme-and-african-literature/" target="_blank">post</a> on the <a href="http://africasacountry.com/" target="_blank">Africa is a Country</a> site and the follow-up article by Michael Silverburg in <i>The Atlantic, </i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/05/why-every-book-about-africa-has-the-same-cover/362101/" target="_blank">"Why Every Book About Africa Has the Same Cover."</a><br />
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Well, perhaps not every book about Africa has the same cover. But <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonMStevens/status/464049317926686720/photo/1" target="_blank">Simon Stevens</a> of Columbia University collected and offers as evidence quite a boat-load <a href="http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-05-13/need-cover-your-book-about-africa-just-add-acacia-tree" target="_blank">here</a>, enough to make you ask why Africa's design short-hand has to be an acacia tree against a dramatic sunrise/set just . . . so many times. And it was his brilliant graphic and comment that got this discussion going most recently.<br />
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It's not the first time publishers have been called out for stereotypical images on their book covers. (Take a look at this <a href="http://arablit.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/translating-for-bigots/" target="_blank">post</a> about how publishers package translations of Middle Eastern books.) Nor will it be the last. But is there anything we, as teachers, can make of such a discussion?<br />
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Don't judge a book by its cover, we've been told. But the cover (including the title and author) is the first piece of information a book offers us. That cover is intended to have an effect on us--i.e., "ooh, I must buy this book!" The images publishers choose are meant to connect with us emotionally and aesthetically as well as intellectually to produce this "ooh, I must buy this book!" effect. So the question the Africa is a Country <a href="http://africasacountry.com/the-dangers-of-a-single-book-cover-the-acacia-tree-meme-and-african-literature/" target="_blank">post</a> raises is, do publishers actually think that "Africa" can be positively linked in our hearts and minds to only one image (h/t @meowmusiq) ? <br />
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It's time to include book covers in book discussion. Not as an add-on or extra credit option, but as an essential part of coming to terms with a literary work. Maybe whenever we give students a book (especially a popular one) we should assess that book's cover, ask ourselves and our students why that particular design might have been chosen. What does it tell us about the story inside, even before we've opened the book? Do they think the image works? Or would they have chosen a different design? <br />
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Teachable moments. There are just so many of them.<br />
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<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-16863678232435832122014-04-25T10:28:00.001-04:002014-04-25T10:28:30.633-04:00The World's Fair--Or Is It? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lately, we've been inundated with images and memories of the 1964 World's Fair in New York. Understandable, since it's the fiftieth anniversary of "the Fair" (as organizer Robert Moses insisted everyone call it in his hearing). As a predictor of the future, it was so-so. Yes, we're all tapping away at computers (then imagined as necessarily ginormous), but no jet packs. Not yet, anyway. (Too many Belgian waffles, maybe?)<br />
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Despite the publicity, it wasn't even officially a World's Fair. Because the Fair violated several international guidelines on the length of the exhibition, scheduling, and fee charging, the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris refused to sanction it. And on top of that (probably because of that), a disappointingly low number of countries actually participated. The Soviet Union declined (okay, it was the Cold War). Indonesia came, but withdrew (again, political tensions). But Canada and Australia didn't show up, and most of Western Europe gave it a pass. When both Germanys gave the Fair the cold shoulder, a "West Berlin" exhibit suddenly popped up. Guess that showed 'em.<br />
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Oh, well. The party went on anyway. And the international theme was carried forward most memorably by America's number one showman, Walt Disney, in the exhibit "It's a Small World." <br />
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Here's the charming story of how it happened. Pepsi-Cola, overwhelmed with respect and love for the world's children, hired Disney to create a ride/show in honor of UNICEF. The promise--to celebrate the children of the world in each culture, and globally. <br />
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And here's the result.<br />
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To be honest, I have to admit that when I recall seeing "It's a Small World" at the Fair as a child, all I remember is the experience of total sensory overload. That, and the child seated in front of me, who kept asking "when can we get out?" At one point, she leaned toward a nodding and dancing animatron and screamed "I hate you!" So much for peace through understanding. But I'm sure they sold a lot of Pepsi.<br />
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Now, of course, all I can see is the almost unbelievable cultural craziness in this round the world tour. "The wooden-shoe children of Holland"? Really? And "exotic Asia," of course, with its mish-mash of China and Japan, followed up by flying carpets over the Taj Mahal. And "the mysterious dark continent of Africa." And let's just stop there.<br />
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Because we could go on and on about how clueless we all were fifty years ago. The point it, where are we now? How do we introduce our young students to their peers around the world? Is it any deeper and more authentic an experience than a ride through a tunnel populated by animatronic dolls?<br />
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Still not there yet. Jet pack, anyone?<br />
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<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/04/25/april-mygloballife-link-up/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link-Up</a> at <a href="http://smallplanetstudio.com/">SmallPlanetStudio.com</a> </i><br />
<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-48839384791145113352014-03-28T09:04:00.000-04:002014-03-28T09:15:51.583-04:00Get Moving and Get Global <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKayu_SGZQbnUsHgYGuOwHGWN71mmzn794WZ3HqILKVI6EoJsQPr5nRc-12BEAxwZuZiMG7_1BgrR67cjg_Nmp-p3iCbWISoN07k9nJvWgvnKGuTTt6zQM7aN5rWYrLlY337n79OgqGw/s1600/michelle-obama-china-peking-university.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKayu_SGZQbnUsHgYGuOwHGWN71mmzn794WZ3HqILKVI6EoJsQPr5nRc-12BEAxwZuZiMG7_1BgrR67cjg_Nmp-p3iCbWISoN07k9nJvWgvnKGuTTt6zQM7aN5rWYrLlY337n79OgqGw/s1600/michelle-obama-china-peking-university.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>So grateful to our First Lady Michelle Obama for the strong support of global education during her visit to China. Here's what she said at Peking University: </div>
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<strong><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Studying abroad
isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester; it is quickly becoming the key to
success in our global economy. Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces
isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are
important. It’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your
borders -- experience with languages, cultures and societies very different
from your own."</span></i></strong><strong><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></em><o:p>You can watch the video of the First Lady's talk <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=493uXtbp95Q" target="_blank">here</a>. And let me ask you--when will "global education" finally be just "education"? <br />
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Linked to the <strong><a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/03/28/march-myglobllife-linkup/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link Up</a></strong> at SmallPlanetStudio.com
Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-33022958283781666462014-02-28T11:44:00.001-05:002014-02-28T11:51:51.183-05:00Multilingual "Let It Go" Says "Bring It On" to World Language Learning Alright, I'll admit it. I've had a hankering to be one of those <a href="http://princess.disney.com/" target="_blank">Disney Princesses</a> since I was three years old. (This despite the face that I nearly fell down the stairs in the clear plastic Cinderella shoes I'd pleaded for.)<br />
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Of course, I had my reservations. Don't we all? But here's a video that may bring even the most reluctant Disney-disapprover into the fold.<br />
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Yes, that's Elsa from <i>Frozen</i>, singing her "I'm-going-my-own-way" song in <b>twenty-five different languages</b>. Play this one at home or in your class for young girls and then casually mention taking a closer look and listen to one of the languages Elsa is singing. I'll bet you get some interest.<br />
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If you're a teacher or a parent (or an aunt!) wanting to use this fun for global learning, you'll find some great ideas for research and discussion at <a href="http://blog.education.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/26/let-it-go-goes-global/" target="_blank">Nat Geo's Blog</a><br />
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And ten years from now, watch out for the Daughters of Elsa world language students and speakers.<br />
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<i>Linked to the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2014/02/28/february-mygloallife-link-up/" target="_blank">My Global Life Link-up</a> at SmallPlanetStudio.com </i><br />
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<a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/mygloballife-linkup/" target="_blank" title="My Global Life Link-Up"><img alt="My Global Life Link-Up" src="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/LinkUp3.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-61091179590911580662014-02-19T11:48:00.000-05:002014-02-19T19:00:46.069-05:00Come, come, whoever you are . . . If you'll be in or around Chapel Hill on Wednesday, February 26, come and join us!<br />
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Free and open to the public. Just as Rumi would like it.<br />
<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-2267628572264118852014-01-31T09:01:00.001-05:002014-01-31T09:10:44.592-05:00A Really Global View A brief message from your planet.<br />
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Hi. Good to be in touch. Listen, I'm not going into all the global warming business right now (although I do wish you'd pay a little more attention to it). Today I have one very simple but very vital reminder for you.<br />
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There is no up and down in space.<br />
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Okay, so what does that mean? Lots of things, but most important to what I'd like to think about today is that you're thinking of the way I look in only one way instead of many ways. <br />
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Don't get me wrong--I'm really flattered that you think of me so often, and create such beautiful images of me. That Universal Studios logo at the beginning of their movies?<br />
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Fantastic. Love it. But you know it's kind of Western-hemisphere centric, right? Yeah, we covered that a while back. But also--well, something you may not have thought of. <br />
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How shall I put this, because it may be pretty strange to hear. Ummm. There is no up and down in space.<br />
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So . . . Well, that North Pole is at the top stuff? Not really. I mean not all the time. And don't get me wrong, I love the NASA photo of Earth from space.<br />
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But. It could have been the other way (I mean "upside down") and been just as accurate. <br />
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Yeah, freaky.<br />
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Take a look at this beautiful map of a region I know you're very familiar with. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Idrisi" target="_blank">Muhammad Al-Idrisi</a> created it in the 12th century.<br />
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Can't place it? How about if we turn it "upside down." <br />
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Now you see it. Well, both are equally accurate. You see? <br />
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Just promise to think about it. And <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25959699" target="_blank">happy new year</a>! <br />
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<em>Linked to the </em><a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2013/12/12/my-global-life-link-up/" target="_blank"><em>"My Global Life"</em></a><em> Link Up at SmallPlanetStudio.com </em><br />
<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-49121254445284931552014-01-22T15:57:00.000-05:002014-01-22T15:57:53.787-05:00NC Social Studies ConferenceDon't forget that the <a href="http://ncsocialstudies.org/" target="_blank">NC Social Studies Conference</a> is coming up fast. Make your plans now and we'll see you in Greensboro, February 20-21. <br />
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Lots of great sessions, and a wonderful way to network with some of the best teachers in the state. I've been known to call it Vegas for social studies nerds. And I can't wait to get there! <br />
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I'll be offering this session:<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Middle East and the Common Core </span> </strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Come learn how to find and use primary and secondary sources, including text, video, and maps, to deepen students’ understanding of the Middle East. Free resources and information about workshops, online teaching materials, and curriculum support.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
Register <a _cke_saved_href="http://ncsocialstudies.org/conference/" href="http://ncsocialstudies.org/conference/">here</a>. And I'll see you there!<br />
<br />
Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-35141012988054939032013-12-20T09:21:00.000-05:002013-12-24T13:19:00.415-05:00Where is the Middle East? <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What's your geographical definition of the Middle East? It's not as simple as it sounds . . . . </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hrq2oAvFfTk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To learn more about definitions of the
Middle East as a region and find
more 20</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
century maps of the Middle East and the reasons for their borders,click <a href="http://mideast.unc.edu/where/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Thanks to T.J. Wolfe and Phil Daquila for their assistance!</i></span></span><br />
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<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-14972597320902206302013-12-13T08:52:00.005-05:002013-12-13T12:08:04.879-05:00Middle Eastern Cultures--PluralI've been Outreach Director for the <a href="http://ncmideast.org/" target="_blank">Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies</a> for some years now. But I've never met a Middle Easterner.<br />
<br />
Wait--what? <br />
<br />
You heard me. <br />
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Oh, I've met and worked with Egyptians and Israelis and Jordanians and Palestinians and Persians and Turks, alright. But never a Middle Easterner. <br />
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You see what I mean? <br />
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It sounds academic to state that the term "Middle East" is largely a geopolitical construct. But it is. And when we fall into the habit of thinking that "Middle East" refers to one homogenous group of people (or even two groups of people), we miss the very reality--realities--we're looking to explore. <br />
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It may seem like a small thing to stop and insist upon adding an "s" to terms like Middle Eastern Culture, or Arabic Culture, or Islamic Culture. But it's important to acknowledge that there is more than one of each. If you've traveled to any two places in the Middle East, or met any two people from different parts of the Middle East, you know what I mean. You know that understanding the complexities of a single region or country is essential to developing cultural competency. <br />
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So here's a resolution for next year. Whenever someone uses the term "Middle East," ask them to specify. Where in the Middle East? In what language? In what culture?<br />
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Language, dress, social customs, perspectives on history, food--it's all complicated, even in the Middle East. So let's get complicated, shall we? <br />
<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Linked to the </i><i><a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2013/12/12/my-global-life-link-up/" target="_blank">"My Global Life"</a> Link U</i><i>p at SmallPlanetStudio.com </i>Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-81825791929662156752013-12-03T10:07:00.000-05:002013-12-03T10:31:18.151-05:00Presentations on Middle East and Islam by UNC and Duke Faculty <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg-cY4jCDlWsrrOk4fHO5tZpOuO7tir0piRHoz9Ny5fiqk-8iADHmwbxr-3IlAYXy7otJap9uxNQA-JQ7-Mkd4HtMaU5JcpYAPmOBaKi3dqyujsIPUIPhpzjIiF7rtRaTLobUrVF2Vg/s1600/Omid-Safi_avatar-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg-cY4jCDlWsrrOk4fHO5tZpOuO7tir0piRHoz9Ny5fiqk-8iADHmwbxr-3IlAYXy7otJap9uxNQA-JQ7-Mkd4HtMaU5JcpYAPmOBaKi3dqyujsIPUIPhpzjIiF7rtRaTLobUrVF2Vg/s200/Omid-Safi_avatar-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNC Prof. Omid Safi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We're all excited about the possibilities MOOCs represent--lectures by extraordinary speakers/scholars made available to thousands of interested viewers. But what if you could listen in to those lectures without the exams and assignments? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, you can. Many professors regularly share their expertise at public events, and more and more university centers are capturing their presentations on video. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">YouTube</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.apple.com/apps/itunes-u/?cid=wwa-us-kwa-features-com&siclientid=6381&sessguid=88384c28-02d0-4d8a-9ed9-82d80548da44&userguid=88384c28-02d0-4d8a-9ed9-82d80548da44&permguid=88384c28-02d0-4d8a-9ed9-82d80548da44" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">iTunes</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> are chock full of great talks by scholars available to the public. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Our Center's faculty have been particularly generous in their public presentations, and their audiences let them know how much it's appreciated. Here are some brand new additions to UNC and Duke faculty presentations on the Middle East and Islam. UNC Professor <a href="http://omidsafi.religionnews.com/" target="_blank">Omid Safi</a> (photo above) is a featured speaker in all of them, and for that he has earned my deepest gratitude as well as coveted membership in my <strong>Outreach Hall of Fame</strong>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://islamicommentary.org/2013/11/u-iran-relations-and-the-new-politics-of-iran-safi-shraghi-kadivar/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">A
New Iran?</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leading Iran scholars at UNC and Duke discuss the history of
US-Iran relations at length and offer insight into the “new politics” of
Iran. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhIpCnFziI&feature=youtu.be"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Where
the Light Enters: Discovering the Poetry of Rumi with Prof. Omid Safi</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">UNC Prof. Omid Safi discusses the poetry of the 13th century
Persian poet and mystic, Rumi, as part of the “Muslim Journeys” program at
Southwest Regional Library, Durham. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z03muJqxjb0&feature=youtu.be"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Global
Protests in Context</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Panel discussion by UNC and Duke faculty on protests in Gezi
Park, Tahrir Square, and Raleigh, NC (Moral Mondays)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">For links to more faculty presentations, click </span><a href="https://ncmideast.org/outreach/presentations/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">. And don't worry. There are no pop quizzes. </span></span><br />
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Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-17738222646875497292013-11-27T08:22:00.000-05:002013-11-28T08:21:56.095-05:00Livin' La Vida Global We're in the third (and last) week of the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2013/11/01/november-mini-blog-challenge-globallife/" target="_blank">blogging challenge</a> <b>Cate Brubaker</b> of <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #249fa3;">Small Planet Studio</span></a> has set us. <br />
<br />
Today's topic: "How are you living a global life?"<br />
<br />
Since this is the eve of Thanksgiving in the US, I'm coming at this question from the gratitude angle. I may not be hopping on a plane to a different, exciting destination every week, but there are global elements I can enjoy as a part of each day. Here are some of the "daily global" activities that enrich my life.<br />
<br />
I work in the <a href="http://global.unc.edu/index.php?option=com_mellocal&focusdate='2011/9/1'&Itemid=36#1184" target="_blank">FedEx Global Education Center</a> at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That means my work, my colleagues, and my location are all focused on global connections. Not an exaggeration to say that something global is <em>always </em>afoot!<br />
<br />
As Outreach Director of the <a href="http://mideast.unc.edu/" target="_blank">Middle East center</a>, I work to deepen understanding of a critical world region. A great challenge, and one I enjoy immensely. My mission is strengthened and buoyed by partnership with faculty from the region who share their expertise and insights with the larger community. <br />
<br />
When I'm at work, I frequently listen to my favorite station, WCPE, online. Which means, of course, I'm listening with people all around the world. (And folks tweet in from all over, which is always a thrill!) <br />
<br />
And speaking of Twitter. Could be (and too often is) a silly waste of time. Still, I can keep current with world-traveling friends. Love the immediacy despite the distance. (Recently I tweeted emergency restaurant suggestions to hungry explorers of Seville and saw the meal they ordered within minutes. Love that Instagram--not to mention the paella!)<br />
<br />
Also on Twitter--I follow <em>Le Monde</em>, and gobble up headlines in French. I keep up with what I think of as the global A-B-C news sources (Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN [or CBS, if you prefer]).<br />
<br />
And I keep up with other globally-minded folks through Cate and her great <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #249fa3;">Small Planet Studio</span></a> site. Terrific to hear tales of travel to places I've visited or not visited, always from interested and interesting people. The blog challenge is the latest exciting idea to emerge from that project. <br />
<br />
So on the eve of Thanksgiving in the US, I'm thankful--very thankful--for all the small and big global connection that enrich my life every day.<br />
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And I'm looking for more! Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-81024817713275180572013-11-20T08:54:00.001-05:002013-11-20T11:32:50.308-05:00My First Global Experience: Swiss (Near) MissWe're in the second week of the <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2013/11/01/november-mini-blog-challenge-globallife/" target="_blank">blogging challenge</a> <b>Cate Brubaker</b> of <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #249fa3;">Small Planet Studio</span></a> has set us. <br />
<br />
Today's topic: "Tell us about your first 'global' experience."<br />
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First, I've got to say I love the quotations around the word "global." Those quotations give me and my fellow bloggers many more possibilities. (Because what's "global"? Hmmm. Define.) <br />
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For the purposes of this response, I'm defining "global" as connections to the world that can happen in your family, your neighborhood, and inside your head. That's so I can talk about something that happened when I was five--something I hadn't thought about for decades. (And, Cate, let me thank you for your excellent skill in drawing out early, unresolved memories for reflection. We're two for two here, Sigmund.) <br />
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How should I begin?<br />
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When you're five, people ask you what you want to be when you grow up. (Much later, I realized this is because they're all out of ideas for themselves.) Most little girls of my generation said they wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. Here's what I told them I wanted to be:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwrTViKvRiE2RATxw1ftvWOl2271jp9KcKy9MOPzxovztXj37b4wM13j_MXuSVOlOlnMVoxT2w9TW6jtVDpoESa-mr0gcEuJpPR9vNONHCg-9nJ7164cyn9zkf0_lUJzgQ2VBS6TZJA/s1600/swiss_guard_1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwrTViKvRiE2RATxw1ftvWOl2271jp9KcKy9MOPzxovztXj37b4wM13j_MXuSVOlOlnMVoxT2w9TW6jtVDpoESa-mr0gcEuJpPR9vNONHCg-9nJ7164cyn9zkf0_lUJzgQ2VBS6TZJA/s320/swiss_guard_1951.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Yep, that's a Swiss Guard, one of the crew the Pope has around for security and ceremony. This was around 1960, during the time of Pope John XXIII. And John XXIII pulled considerable weight in my neighborhood, even among non-Catholics. To be on this pope's team? <em>Wearing the absolutely best uniform in the history of the world? </em>Who could resist?</div>
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I guess I told one too many people about my career choice. Or maybe someone tipped off my parents that their youngest daughter desperately needed a reality check. Whatever happened, one evening my father told me he'd like to speak with me alone after dinner. <br />
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It was a short conversation. <br />
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"I'm sorry, but you can't be a Swiss Guard."<br />
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"Why not?"<br />
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"Because we're not Swiss." <br />
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Thud.<br />
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That had never occurred to me as a disqualifier. Swiss-ness was all around me. I loved <em>Heidi. </em>Not the Hollywood version, but the real live honest-to-God full length English translation of the original work (two volumes!) by Johanna Spyri, that my mother had read to me several times. I had a real Swiss watch that my sister had brought home for me. I can't say I was wild about Swiss cheese (I still attribute this to an early traumatic "Farmer in the Dell" experience that put me off <em>all</em> cheese for quite a while), but I was all on board for the chocolate. And (perhaps most relevant) I had a Swiss Guard figure that stood at attention on the top of my dresser. It looked something like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2FQPsZ1N4pcB_FTksyEayAfu1cxBQOZxCccRUq0T82PYY983ry1QzY6haVhhzUdsIlqVe49NKG4Pd3wrQEurqlguZ75EcTGFP0tMxVo-TVwiBpPO8XxCaKxCphply1CZB9wXQ6-E7w/s1600/swiss+guard+doll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2FQPsZ1N4pcB_FTksyEayAfu1cxBQOZxCccRUq0T82PYY983ry1QzY6haVhhzUdsIlqVe49NKG4Pd3wrQEurqlguZ75EcTGFP0tMxVo-TVwiBpPO8XxCaKxCphply1CZB9wXQ6-E7w/s320/swiss+guard+doll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The simple fact that I was barred from something Swiss by virtue of nationality absolutely floored me. <br />
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But that surprise is an important part of any transformative "global" experience--especially, I think, for children growing up in the US. There's that false sense of entitlement we all know about, and it manifests itself early, even (perhaps especially) through gifts we're given and art we experience. In enjoying <em>Heidi </em>and my watch (which still works, by the way) and my beloved little figure, I'd embraced "Swiss" as a kind of brand name, and missed the significance of nationality.<br />
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Well, I was five, and all in all it was a worthwhile "global" experience, especially as it was my first. And the fact that only the Swiss can be Swiss Guards? That I coudn't be a Swiss Guard because I wasn't Swiss? That was okay. After a while. <br />
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<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-41187849098859241452013-11-13T09:49:00.004-05:002013-11-13T09:49:55.345-05:00What--no tiara? The dumbest thing I've taken abroad <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy to join in the challenge my friend and colleague <b>Cate Brubaker</b> of <a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/" target="_blank">Small Planet Studio</a> has set us globally-oriented bloggers--<a href="http://www.smallplanetstudio.com/2013/11/01/november-mini-blog-challenge-globallife/" target="_blank">three blogs this month on the same topics</a>. </div>
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Today's topic:</div>
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<i>"What's the weirdest or dumbest thing you've taken abroad?"</i><br />
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Didn't have to think about this one at all. Immediately I had visions (flashbacks!) of the very dressy dress I packed for my junior year abroad in England. (I'd been told that the last group in the program I was joining had been presented to Princess Margaret, and so I think I was packing with that royal fantasy/possibility in mind. That's my only excuse.) <br />
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Now when I say dressy, I don't just mean formal. I mean straight out poufy-poufy. Something like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsf3QAWqFqPFM__DaEm8FuJNU3ismz7ITFuq7rbFbhTWYsnr_hnWaAHgDKhIs00rcmi1KXk1oNIF4ytttCPxCzlWM_lqt7o3LqQcRAtaBa9IrRCW01AmTiD__wfY5KtxVKujZztOccw/s1600/disney+princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsf3QAWqFqPFM__DaEm8FuJNU3ismz7ITFuq7rbFbhTWYsnr_hnWaAHgDKhIs00rcmi1KXk1oNIF4ytttCPxCzlWM_lqt7o3LqQcRAtaBa9IrRCW01AmTiD__wfY5KtxVKujZztOccw/s1600/disney+princess.jpg" /></a></div>
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Well, maybe not so extreme as that. But it <i>was</i> pink. And poufy. <br />
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Maybe I needed that extra fancy dress to feel ready for my first experience abroad on my own. Maybe it was an expression of the <i>persona</i> I wanted to project in a country that's the setting for so many of my favorite stories. Maybe it was my superheroine costume. All I know is, it took up quite a lot of room in my luggage. And I wore it only once the whole year, to a dinner at an Oxford college, where I got very strange looks indeed. <br />
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Now I know better, I hope. By all means, pack a "dress to impress" outfit. But think about a simple black sheath that can be dressed up or down. Like this:<br />
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See? That wouldn't take up much room at all. And you'd be ready for anything. Even fantasies of meeting royalty. Really. <br />
<br />Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-69175764872104390192013-08-29T10:13:00.000-04:002013-08-29T15:04:09.580-04:00Islamic Art and Culture Workshop at the Nasher MuseumThis is most useful for those in the Triangle area. Still, it's a
great workshop, and might inspire you to make a road trip!<o:p></o:p><br />
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Introduction to Islamic Art<br />
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University<br />
September 25, 4-7 pm<o:p></o:p><br />
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Join K-12 educators to learn how you can bring Islamic art and culture into
your classroom! The program will include slide lectures, hands-on art
activities, creative writing and performances by local musicians and
dancers. This workshop will focus on the exhibition <a href="http://nasher.duke.edu/shangrila/" target="_blank">Doris Duke’s Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape, and Islamic Art.</a> <br />
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Guest speaker Glaire
Anderson, associate professor of art history at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, will provide an introduction to Islamic art and the
exhibition. This FREE program will also include a live performance, time to
explore the exhibition independently and a light reception. Participants will
receive partial CEU credit and interdisciplinary curriculum-based materials.<o:p></o:p><br />
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More information about the exhibition <a href="http://nasher.duke.edu/shangrila/"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. Directions to the
Nasher <a href="http://nasher.duke.edu/visit/"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<br />
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And register <a href="http://nasher.duke.edu/k-12-teachers/#teacher-resources" target="_blank">here</a>! Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-76356530715507261732013-08-21T08:41:00.001-04:002013-08-21T08:42:03.742-04:00It's All in How You Look at It<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not Back to School. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Forward to School.</span></div>
Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-44512893379463892842013-08-07T15:06:00.000-04:002013-08-07T15:16:02.597-04:00World View Partners Program So looking forward to the teachers' program on Tuesday, August 13 offered by <a href="http://worldview.unc.edu/" target="_blank">World View</a>. It's an annual event for K-12 teachers working with World View and getting ready for another great year. This year's theme is "<span style="font-size: small;">Transforming Learning Environments through Global and STEM Education." It's free to teachers in World View partner systems and schools. Find out more and register <a href="http://worldview.unc.edu/registration/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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I'll be representing our <a href="http://mideast.unc.edu/outreach/" target="_blank">Middle East Center</a> and offering my session on the Muslim Veil twice. You can meet me at my display as well. (Pick up a map of the Middle East, why don't you!) Hope to see you there! Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913042509734364086.post-12406599713689915812013-07-23T11:40:00.000-04:002013-07-23T11:40:50.528-04:00Free Online Course on 9/11 and Its Aftermath <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuR_phJYCx0LiMBAEkTlTFAdSvnWITHYj8yJ_fzopLhg7lKsoWuMFJGLxFfPornaAM61zpY7Pj0hs_4Fs7_V0EJngR7S9chVdo4R8ziwhjApexFDY4Gf_BQ5UYM3P3_KbF01gzDvXjww/s1600/new-york-city-78181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuR_phJYCx0LiMBAEkTlTFAdSvnWITHYj8yJ_fzopLhg7lKsoWuMFJGLxFfPornaAM61zpY7Pj0hs_4Fs7_V0EJngR7S9chVdo4R8ziwhjApexFDY4Gf_BQ5UYM3P3_KbF01gzDvXjww/s1600/new-york-city-78181.jpg" /></a></div>
If you've been telling yourself you've got to get a perspective on 9/11, if you've been promising yourself that you're going to try one of those new MOOC courses--here's your chance. Duke University's <a href="https://www.coursera.org/instructor/davidschanzer" target="_blank">David Schanzer</a> is teaching a seven-week online course on "9/11 and Its Aftermath" through Coursera. <br />
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Read about the course and view the introductory video <a href="https://www.coursera.org/course/911aftermath" target="_blank">here</a>, and don't delay. The course begins on Sept. 9, and <a href="https://www.coursera.org/course/911aftermath" target="_blank">registration is going on right now</a>. Regina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07598990433816407820noreply@blogger.com0