Collaborative Outreach:University of Michigan NRCs

Kate Wright Center for Southeast Asian Studies University of Michigan

Overview•Collaborative background at Michigan•Recent Project: World History Institute•Future Directions•Challenges

U-M International Institute is:African Studies CenterArmenian Studies Program*Center for Chinese StudiesCenter for European Studies*Center for Japanese Studies*Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies*Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies*Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

The International Institute is:*Center for South Asian Studies*Center for Southeast Asian StudiesCenter for World Performance StudiesIslamic Studies Program*Nam Center for Korean StudiesProgram in International and Comparative StudiesWeiser Center for Emerging DemocraciesWeiser Center for Europe and Eurasia

U-M’s Collaborative BackgroundOutreach Coordinators’ Group

Formed 2002; in 2003 recognized with an internal award from the university for

innovation and excellence.

Sharing resources, logistical burdens, and name recognition

Examples of Collaboration•Midwest Institute for International-

Intercultural Education•Great Decisions through the Foreign

Policy Association•Connect with student expertise: Teaching

Gamelan website

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/gamelan.education/home

U-M’s Collaborative BackgroundEasily replicable advantages of OREC:•Database of contacts•Shared contacts among local school districts

and teachers•Point person for collaboration within the

university•Logistical efficiencies and economies of scale

(conferences, promotional materials)•Name recognition among the local school

system

U-M’s Collaborative Backgroundhttp://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/ii/Home/Resources/Documents/1213_Calendar_Final.pdf

World History InstitutePart of the Teaching Globally K-12

Outreach initiative of the International Institute.

Focused on high school educators.

Fulfills need for educators: new curriculum requirements.

World History Institute•2-3 day teacher workshops multiple times a

year•Continuing Education credits available•Evaluation and 6-month follow up performed•Web-based resource sharing•Opportunity for curriculum piloting•Connections to faculty and graduate student

experts in the field. •Connections to other teachers teaching the

same material.

World History InstitutePartners include:U-M School of EducationInternational Institute NRCsU-M Eisenberg Institute for Historical StudiesBritish Council Social Sciences Research Council

New Directions for Collaboration•Preparing future faculty through a

seminar for graduate students•“Our Shared Past” opportunity through

the British Council and the Social Science Research Council

•Focus on curricular reform and world history curriculum development

Challenges – ExternalScheduling: Being cognizant of demands on teacher’s timeNeeds: Staying in touch with what are the needs of teachers in your state.Technology: Planning for ease of shared electronic resources; making sure shared resources are accessible, editable.

Hint: PDFs are difficult!

Challenges - InternalScheduling: being cognizant of demands on faculty’s time. Pitch: coaching faculty affiliates on the pitch of their lecture for teachers. Students: Bringing graduate students into the workshop requires another level of logistical coordination.Financial: any collaborative work between units in the university requires some financial negotiation, especially in terms of support staff. Negotiating this at the beginning of a grant is usually the best way to go.

Thank you!

Kate WrightCenter for Southeast Asian StudiesUniversity of Michigankatemw@umich.edu