This seminar for educators covers the history and cultures of East Asia from the neolithic past to 1800. The course includes an overview of the region’s geography and demography, early ideologies as well as links between China, Korea and Japan. Participants will examine social hierarchies and expectations through literature and art, and explore the technological breakthroughs, economic rise and political systems of the region. Those teaching history, social studies, art and literature will find the course particularly relevant. Priority given to teachers in California.
Instruction is provided by top scholars and educators in the field. In addition to providing educators with a solid foundation for understanding East Asia, the course emphasizes ways to bring the themes and problems of the various places and periods alive for K-12 students. Participants are provided with a variety of primary sources as well as film recommendations and web resources. The course supports national education standards.
The online seminar includes:
- Video presentations (2 hours/week) that you watch on your own schedule
- Background and primary source readings
- Mandatory online forum participation
- Weekly live online discussion with the specialist for that topic
Benefits:
- 2 salary points for Los Angeles Unified School District.
- For all other districts, 6 Continuing Education Units (processing fee applicable)
- Online resources and materials
Topics:
- East Asian Geography and Demography
- Early Civilizations, Religions and Philosophies
- Pre-modern Korea
- Imperial China
- Classical and Warrior Japan
- East Asian literature and history
- and much more!
The course is sponsored by the USC U.S.-China Institute and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. Funding from the Freeman Foundation enables us to offer the seminar for K-12 educators.
Schedule:
The seminar workshops will be held virtually on Monday for the following dates. Reading assignments and pre-recorded lectures for each week will be available in an online forum and are to be completed prior to the discussion sessions. Access and log-in information will be provided upon acceptance into the course. Please refer to the Seminar Requirements Document for details on assignments and course completion.
Session | Date | Speakers/Topics |
1 | 2/24 | Geography and Demography Clayton Dube, USC |
2 | 3/3 | Qin and Han Dynasties, Hundred Schools Debate Clayton Dube, USC |
3 | 3/10 | Cosmopolitan China Clayton Dube, USC |
4 | 3/17 | Classical Japan Morgan Pitelka, University of North Carolina |
5 | 3/24 | Warrior Japan Morgan Pitelka, University of North Carolina |
6 | 4/7 | Buddhism Lori Meeks, USC |
7 | 4/21 | Japanese Literature Lynne K. Miyake, Pomona College |
8 | 4/28 | Patterns of the Korean Past Jennifer Jung-Kim, UCLA |
9 | 5/5 | Mongols - Ming Clayton Dube, USC |
10 | 5/12 | Qing - East Asia at 1800 Clayton Dube, USC |