Workshop: “Teach Europe”

2 June 2009 – The High Museum of Art

The EUCE was proud to support the Southern Center for International Studies day-long Teach Europe program on June 2, 2009. The program provided training and enrichment sessions on Europe for 155 teachers using state-of-the-art materials and modern methodologies for the classroom. The event was hosted by Atlanta’s High Museum of Art in their educational facilities and the training was based on the Southern Center for International Studies’ Europe in Transition educational materials. Social studies and language arts teachers from elementary, middle and high schools within the state of Georgia attended and engaged in key learning standards mandated by the state of Georgia on Europe.

The program opened with welcoming remarks by Mr. Anthony Smallwood, Head of Press and Public Diplomacy at the European Commission’s Delegation in Washington, D.C. and Diane Alleva Caceres, EUCE Associate Director. Mr. Smallwood then joined a panel discussion on “Relationships, Community, and Identity in Modern Europe,” featuring the Consuls General from Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland and Consuls from Belgium and Greece. The remainder of the morning was devoted to the professional development training workshops using the Europe in Transition materials. Following lunch, a demonstration of Irish dancing by the Mulligan School of Dance entertained the participants. In the afternoon breakout sessions, attendees were able to select from a variety of offerings based on the themes of Europe in Transition materials including: the politics and culture of Eastern Europe, European film, European art, geography, and government. Additionally, EU expert and scholar, Dr. Brian Murphy, led one of the enrichment sessions entitled, “The Future of Europe.”

The day concluded with a reception and guided tour of the widely acclaimed Louvre Exhibit at the High Museum of Art. Participants expanded their knowledge about Europe (historical, cultural, geographical, environmental, political and economic) through activities and strategies they can replicate with their own students. They learned new strategies for more effectively sharing information about Europe with their students, and received a variety of new activities for use in the classroom that meet state standards.