This fall, Kā12 educators specializing in history, art, geography, and cultural studies are invited to a deeply enriching professional development opportunity: the five-week online seminar, Epochs & Change-Makers in East Asian Urbanism, Architecture & Art, offered by the USC U.S.āChina Institute funded by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA). The Epochs & Change-Makers seminar is much more than a deep dive into East Asian urban and artistic traditionsāitās a pedagogically sound opportunity expressly designed for K-12 educators!
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HistoryāSocial Science Standards Alignment
Californiaās HistoryāSocial Science Content Standards emphasize the power of historical narratives, understanding significant individuals, and analyzing primary sources to draw connections across time and space .
This seminar supports those standards by:
Introducing key historical figuresāsuch as Emperor Wu, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Mao Zedongāand their impact on urban development (Grade-level content relates directly to āsignificant individualsā standards).
Offering primary-source readings and visual artifacts, such as scrolls and garden plans, to develop historical thinking and narrative understanding.
Encouraging comparative thinking about how cities evolve across cultures and erasāa core skill in state frameworks.
Visual Arts Standards Alignment
Californiaās 2019 Visual Arts Standards center on four artistic processesācreating, presenting, responding, and connectingāthat foster art literacy replete with historical and cultural understanding .
This seminar aligns with those standards through:
Responding & Connecting: Engaging with artworks such as the Qingming Scroll, ukiyo-e prints, and film will sharpen studentsā ability to interpret and analyze visual meanings within cultural contexts.
Creating & Conceptualizing: Examining how philosophical and ecological ideas shaped urban design (e.g., classical gardens, city layouts) invites students to imagine and design their own culturally-informed urban spaces.
Developing Critical Awareness: Lessons inspire students to consider how built environments communicate values, identities, and historiesātying directly into anchor standards focused on analyzing artās societal and historical significance.
Why This Matters for California Educators
Standards-Driven Content: Lessons and discussions can be easily mapped to California HSS and Visual Arts standards, bringing global perspectives into everyday learning.
Cross-Disciplinary Impact: The seminar enhances instruction in history, social science, and visual artsāsupporting integrated teaching practices.
Enhanced Student Engagement: By using visual sources and real-world design examples, educators can help students see history and feel cultural context.
Practical Application: The course materials, seminar discussions, and online resources equip educators with ready-to-use strategies and content for classrooms in California.