The UW–Madison Center for European Studies and Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia hosted an in-person professional development workshop for educators on February 1 titled “Empire and Identity in France and Russia.”
The day-long workshop provided participating educators with the opportunity to hear cutting-edge scholarship from UW–Madison professors of history and sociology. They provided context and analysis of the legacy of empire in France and Russia – how their shared past as empires has shaped the modern-day identities and politics of their people, and how this past impacts their current relationship.
The educators, who represented middle and high schools in Baraboo, Lake Mills, Madison, Milwaukee, Necedah, and Prairie du Chien, as well as Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, spent the day hearing from UW–Madison faculty including Emma Kuby, associate professor of history, who presented on “France after the Age of Empire: Immigration, Race, and Belonging since 1962;” Geoffrey Durham, assistant professor of history, who presented on “Politics of Belonging in the Tsarist and Soviet Empires;” and Ted Gerber, professor of sociology, who presented on “Post-Soviet Russia’s Issues With Migration: Legacies of Empire, Nationalism, and Demography.” Outreach specialists Eleanor Conrad and Sara Lomasz Flesch organized the workshop in service of the Wisconsin Idea.
through an engaging learning activity.
Interspersed between the faculty presentations, AP World History teacher Carlos Romo of Mukwonago High School, who also serves on the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies Board of Directors, led the participants through engaging exercises to demonstrate ways to approach and explore these heady topics in the K-14 classroom.
“All of the information provided by the speakers helped to build my knowledge base and has helped to spark ideas of how to use the info in the classes I teach,” commented one participant in a post-workshop evaluation.
Participants received the books France by Emile Chabal and Russia’s Empires by Valerie A. Kivelson and Ronald Suny, a reader with maps, timelines, articles, visual media resources, and Romo’s suggested classroom activities, access to digital resources compiled by UW-Madison librarians Julianne Haahr and Andy Spencer, and a certificate of completion.
“This was an excellent workshop. The resources we received were fantastic!” wrote another participant. “All the speakers were also very excellent [and] inspiring. I also really enjoyed the practical strategies from Carlos.”
project to synthesise everything
they learned during the workshop.
As U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Centers, the Center for European Studies and Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia support the efforts of K-14 educators who infuse and enrich curriculum for young people with a deeper understanding of world regions.
“Our National Resource Center workshops provide a unique opportunity for teachers from various communities around Wisconsin to connect with leading regional experts and importantly, each other,” said Conrad, outreach specialist for European Studies. “Participants not only benefit from scholarship and resources of the university, but the workshops also serve as a forum for teachers to share best practices.”
For more information about educator resources and upcoming professional development opportunities, see europe.wisc.edu and creeca.wisc.edu.
Story by Sara Lomasz Flesch