Shrei symposium
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This document describes a new course on global human rights taught at Montgomery College. The course uses service learning to help students explore human rights issues in both theory and practice. Students partner with local organizations working on issues like the death penalty, health care access, and human trafficking. Through activities like discussions, films, and blogs, students link course concepts to current events and consider careers in human rights. The goal is for students to gain a global perspective and appreciation for cultural diversity while strengthening the community.
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Shrei symposium
- 1. Global Rights, Local ActionGlobal Rights, Local Action Exploring Human Rights Through Service Learning in the Humanities Alonzo SmithAlonzo Smith Layla M. HashemiLayla M. Hashemi Montgomery College Department of History and Political ScienceMontgomery College Department of History and Political Science Rockville, MDRockville, MD
- 2. Introduction – Teaching a NewIntroduction – Teaching a New Course on Global Human RightsCourse on Global Human Rights Who we areWho we are – Dr. Alonzo Smith ● History – Layla M. Hashemi ● Political Science About the College – Student population – Geographic location ● Recent NEH Grant → ● GLOBAL HUMANITIES INSTITUTE (GHI)
- 3. Global Humanities Institute (GHI) @ MCGlobal Humanities Institute (GHI) @ MC As part of its Bridging CulturesBridging Cultures initiative,initiative, NEH has awarded the College $490,000 to launch an Institute for Global Humanities Initiatives (IGHI) and a series of related international education programming. ● As a part of the grant, the College will match two-to-one for a total of $1.49 million in funds required for the new NEH Challenge Grant from individual, corporate and foundation gifts over the next six years. ● With the IGHI, Montgomery College will be able to strengthen its long-term humanities programs and resources.
- 4. A NEW COURSEA NEW COURSE ON GLOBALON GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS
- 5. PS260: POLITICS IN ACTIONPS260: POLITICS IN ACTION ● Now with the specific subtopic of “Global Human Rights” taught this past Spring 2013 ● Course objectives and aims* – Explore the nature of universal human rights in both theory and practice – Recognize the importance and impact of the media, especially social media, to influence human rights – Greater appreciation of cultural differences and awareness of global connectedness
- 6. Human Rights in Theory andHuman Rights in Theory and PracticePractice - Leading to Careers- Leading to Careers and Continued Activismand Continued Activism A Few Assumptions (via Daoust and Epperson) (1) American students are globally and geographically challenged (2) Human beings have the potential for both good and evil (3) Conflict, not violence, is the opposite of peace and is inherent in the human condition (4) The quest to implement human rights as universal and ideal standards that guide social arrangements requires education and constant attention (5) Peacemaking requires global competence and tolerance for cultural diversity
- 7. IN-CLASS ACTIVITIESIN-CLASS ACTIVITIES QUESTIONS ANDQUESTIONS AND REFLECTIONREFLECTION ● How does the work done by your service learning partner organization relate to the UDHR? ● Using Cress to guide our discussions and reflection exercises. FILM SCREENINGSFILM SCREENINGS ● War Don Don – War crimes ● Zero Dark Thirty – Torture, – international security
- 8. PS260: GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTSPS260: GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS Course Materials andCourse Materials and AssignmentsAssignments ● Textbook ● Workbook ● Cress on Service Learning ● Library Tutorial ● Learning Management System – Reflection blogs – Weekly discussion questions ● Online media – Documentaries – Music videos – Images and articles Service LearningService Learning ComponentComponent ● Introductions, linking with local service learning partner ● In class lectures, discussions, videos and presentations ● Final celebration of service, linking the experience to future academic and career decisions
- 9. SOCIAL MEDIASOCIAL MEDIA AND HUMANAND HUMAN RIGHTSRIGHTS
- 10. Harnessing the Power of the InternetHarnessing the Power of the Internet COURSE BLOG: http://www.ps260.tumblr.com
- 11. LIBRARY TUTORIAL AND WEBSITELIBRARY TUTORIAL AND WEBSITE URL: http://libguides.montgomerycollege.edu/PS260_HashemiR
- 12. LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Service Learning Reflection Blogs Ends with final presentations about the service learning experience as well as a final paper linking research and service Weekly class discussion questions Students respond online to questions related to course content and are able to read and respond to their peersSample Blog Entry: “My service learning project has been going well so far, I usually spend a few hours on a weekday and eight to twelve hours per weekend depending on the events that the organization sponsors. For example, last week was the Hindu festival of Holi, the celebration of spring and colors. Guests would come in with a white t-shirt and leave with all sorts of bright powdered colors on them. We sold food and drinks, and also had a famous spiritual band play for the duration of the event. The temple grounds were packed; we planned for about 1000+ people to attend the event but the headcount was over 3000+”
- 13. SERVICESERVICE LEARNING ANDLEARNING AND HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS
- 14. SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESSERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Partner OrganizationsPartner Organizations - David Smith – Rockville Human Rights Commission - Interfaith Works and other intercultural organizations - Health Care is a Human Right - Senator Jennie Forehand - Oxfam Hunger Banquet
- 15. Hands on Poverty And Food Security – Oxfam Hunger Banquet The heavily guarded upper class guests. Learning Through Serving
- 16. LINKING LOCAL ISSUES: THELINKING LOCAL ISSUES: THE DEATH PENALTY IN MDDEATH PENALTY IN MD http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/05/2013521896180295.html
- 17. Further Exploring the Death Penalty OnlineFurther Exploring the Death Penalty Online
- 18. Rockville Human Rights CommissionRockville Human Rights Commission ROCKVILLE MAYOR PHYLLIS MARCUCCIO (CENTER), MONTGOMERY COLLEGE STUDENTS GINA FRANCESCA SUAREZ (LEFT) AND VIRGINIA BEZERRA DE MENEZES (RIGHT), MONTGOMERY COLLEGE PROF. ALONZO SMITH (FAR LEFT), AND DAVID SMITH, CHAIR OF THE ROCKVILLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (FAR RIGHT) (PHOTO COURTESY: CITY OF ROCKVILLE, MD) ““Working with Local Government as aWorking with Local Government as a Means of AdvancingMeans of Advancing Global HumanGlobal Human Rights and Student Learning”Rights and Student Learning” davidsmith.wordpress.com Peacebuilding and Community Colleges Learning Through Serving
- 19. Taking Action Against HumanTaking Action Against Human Trafficking in MarylandTrafficking in Maryland VIDEO: Human Trafficking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT1RuwAI75w (1:50) Learning Through Serving
- 20. Health Care is a Human Right Maryland Chapter - Fight for universal healthcare began in Vermont - Maryland had its launch in December of 2012 Learning Through Serving
- 21. IMAGES OFIMAGES OF HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS Linking Course Content toLinking Course Content to Current EventsCurrent Events
- 22. THE POWER OF INFOGRAPHICS.THE POWER OF INFOGRAPHICS.
- 23. DOCUMENTARY FILMS:DOCUMENTARY FILMS: Archiving HumanArchiving Human Rights Activism and InjusticeRights Activism and Injustice
- 24. SONGS OF PROTEST:SONGS OF PROTEST: OMAR OFFENDUM OF SYRIAOMAR OFFENDUM OF SYRIA #SYRIA Music Video http://youtu.be/TXjEWrhkb6g #Jan 25th http://youtu.be/sCbpiOpLwFg
- 25. CURRENT EVENTS ThroughCURRENT EVENTS Through Online ContentOnline Content And ImageryAnd Imagery Syrian children carry pictures of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib Photo: REUTERS Act Like a Man, Dress Like A Womanin Iran/ “Be a Man” Movement
- 26. Encouraging Community and Global Citizenship Through Service Learning Why Now?Why Now? Recent events like #Occupy and the Arab Spring haveRecent events like #Occupy and the Arab Spring have shown that online media is influencing political and social movementshown that online media is influencing political and social movement outcomesoutcomes - Back to our- Back to our five basic assumptionsfive basic assumptions –> there is no room for–> there is no room for ignorance in the 21ignorance in the 21stst centurycentury Why Service Learning? Helps studentsWhy Service Learning? Helps students -Gain opportunities to network and apply academic knowledge in real-life settings-Gain opportunities to network and apply academic knowledge in real-life settings -Build communications skills-Build communications skills – Interact with local community organizationsInteract with local community organizations - Solidify future academic and professional goals- Solidify future academic and professional goals
Editor's Notes
- Pull up some stats about the MC population Talk about the veterans ---> mention the fact that Geographically the school is really well placed outside of DC
- Montgomery College is one of six community colleges nationwide to be awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grant for Two-Year Colleges. As part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, NEH has awarded the College $490,000 to launch an Institute for Global Humanities Initiatives (IGHI) and a series of related international education programming. As a part of the grant, the College will match two-to-one for a total of $1.49 million in funds required for the new NEH Challenge Grant from individual, corporate and foundation gifts over the next six years. With the IGHI, Montgomery College will be able to strengthen its long-term humanities programs and resource *Mention how Alonzo will be working with GHI this fall …. ask him to share what he'll be working on
- Global citizens of the world (given the background of MC students, veteran population, ** adapted from David Smith's book on Peacebuilding in Community Colleges.
- Pg 156 Egypt “I Wish” http://youtu.be/ZQOG27iZRmk
- Share stats on the ticking time bomb **** KEY STATS ON OPINIONS ABOUT TORTURE VIA DAVID SMITH's BOOK – share student reactions to watching the documentary … . Here I am specifically thinking about Chris... I feel like he came into the course with the impression that torture was a necessary evil the US had to partake in after 9/11, but after completing his final term research it was clear in his presentation that he began to question his own worldview/beliefs about torture even under extraordinary circumstances.
- Why Service Learning? Allows students to experience working in an environment without as much time commitment as an internship or other job opportunity. They are able to access if they would like to continue exploring the field as place for future employment and learn their own professional strengths and weaknesses. We will give more examples of course materials in a few minutes, but the importance of the SL component for our course cannot be over-emphasized. The SL component counts of 50% of the students total grade, which includes completing all necessary forms, consistent logging in reflection blog, and positive feedback from the SL partner about the students work with the organization.
- Used as a way for keep students informed about current events and for posting of supplemental informations related to the course. Was used as a way to inform students about the course before it was listed on the college website... also gives students who have previously taken the course a resource for the future.
- THE IMPROTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO REEARCH AND WRITE SCHOLARLY PAPERS AS A LEARNING OUTCOME → use of a CRITICAL resource such as the MC Libraries and their one-class session library tutorials where students are familiarized with the academic databases and journals such as JSTOR, They learn how to conduct more effective and academically sound searches as well as basic skills such as citation
- *Share Raj's example here where e worked with the center for Krishna consciousness *** PULL PICTURES of HOLI Ceremony and his bake sale? Partner Organizations - David Smith Rockville Human Rights Commission - Interfaith Works and other intercultural organizations - Health Care is a Human Right - Senator Jennie Forehand - Oxfam Hunger Banquet Issues like the death penalty and human trafficking in the state of MD MC's Annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet
- In 2011, the banquet successfully raides over $2,000 campus-wide to donate to “Help Kids India” … the donations were utilized to purchase smokeless stoves for poor families in India. Additionally, the on-campus group Manna Food groups collected canned goods and other donations for local Montgomery County groups in poverty. I particularly like this event because it shows our students that issues like hunger are present at home as well as abroad and should not be ignored. An opportunity for education about food waste--- this year's keynote speaker began an initiative to collect unused food in the area and redistribute it to those in need.
- Ask Alonzo to talk about The death penalty and Human trafficking, leading into the video....
- * mention that none of our students even knew who the president of Syria was as we began the unit
- Poets of Protest reflects the poet's view of the change sweeping the Middle East through its intimate profiles of six contemporary writers as they struggle to lead, to interpret and to inspire. Poetry lives and breathes in the Middle East as in few other places. In a region long dominated by authoritarian regimes, poetry is the medium for expressing people's hopes, dreams and frustrations. Poets became historians, journalists, entertainers - and even revolutionaries. Ever since Tunisians chanted Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi's If the People Wanted Life One Day poetry has been a key weapon of the Arab Spring, used to taunt regimes' refusing to see the writing on the wall. As the revolution spread to Egypt, it turned out that the writing on the wall was also poetry - graffiti by young artists painting the works of poets like al-Shabi or Egypt's Ahmed Fouad Negm. Poets of Protest focuses on the writers, their political and artistic struggles, and their work, with beautifully filmed visual interpretations of the poems.
- Story Behind #Jan25 Song by Omar Offendum Inspired by the resilience of Egyptian people during their recent uprising, several notable musicians from North America have teamed up to release a song of solidarity and empowerment. The track is fittingly titled "#Jan25" as a reference to both the date the protests officially began in Egypt, and its prominence as a trending topic on Twitter. Produced by Sami Matar, a Palestinian-American composer from Southern California, and featuring the likes of Freeway, The Narcicyst, Omar Offendum, HBO Def Poet Amir Sulaiman, and Canadian R&B vocalist Ayah - this track serves as a testament to the revolution's effect on the hearts and minds of today's youth, and the spirit of resistance it has come to symbolize for oppressed people worldwide.
- Why Now? Recent events like #Occupy and the Arab Spring have shown that online media is influencing political and social movement outcomes - - Back to our five basic assumptions –> there is no room for ignorance in the 21 st century Why Service Learning? Helps students -Gain opportunities to network and apply academic knowledge in real-life settings -Build communications skills Interact with local community organizations - Solidify future academic and professional goals
- Pg 156 Egypt “I Wish” http://youtu.be/ZQOG27iZRmk
- Don't shoot with your mechanism Soon come the reckoning that looms Second guessing the protesters Was a recipe for Assad to address his own doom... Its been a long time coming And there's no turning back now Voices are the weapons In these military crackdowns Millions on the streets In defiance of your gat sounds Look who's got you shook Doctor don't know how to act now... "alsha3b yureed isqaa6 al-nithaam"