What Students and Educators Need to Know about Asia and Why - Sponsored by the Committee for Teaching Asia

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

What needs to be taught about Asia? How can it be taught? Why prioritize it? How do our various perspectives, experiences and research inform our teaching practices?

One quarter of the G-20 countries are in Asia. Northeast, South, and Southeast Asia play integral roles in the global economy, geopolitics, and culture. Migrations within Asia and beyond have major domestic and international impacts including in schools and communities outside of Asia.

Asia-related scholarship has expanded impressively throughout the last half century. Although substantial advancement has also occurred in teaching about Asia, more progress is imperative to reflect the significance of this region historically and today. The panelists in this roundtable have varied and extensive experiences in education, Asia and the wider world. They will discuss fundamental educational questions, including: why is the study of Asia vital in the liberal arts, and pre-professional and professional education? what do students need to know about Asia and why? and, last but not least, what are exemplary educational practices that have evidence of effectiveness and are replicable?.

Robert Kapp, will address connections and the disconnects between academic instructions and the "world of work" beyond the campus and how this is reflected in the teaching about Asia. Namji Steinemann will present how the study of Asia can prepare students with transferable 21st century skills that they will need for success in today's increasingly interconnected world. Focusing on the role of local connections with Asia, Anne Prescott will present opportunities for teaching and connections while Gary Mukai will raise specific connection i.e. Asia is the ancestral homeland of Asian-American students, Teachers need to study Asia and the Asian-American experiences in order to be effective educators who can, among other things, address the achievement gap. Finally Arnold Kaminsky will a discuss the issue of how to fit Asia into the World History and K—12 content standards and how educators beyond Asian Studies community can gain expertise and materials to do so. The roundtable will engage the audience in sharing perspectives, experiences and research on the need for and scope of teaching about Asia. And what comes next.

Area of Study

• Interarea-Border Crossing

Session Organizer

• Peter W. Gilmartin, Primary Source

Chair

• Lucien Ellington, University of Tenneseee at Chattanooga

Discussants

• Anne Prescott, Five Colleges Center for Asian Studies

• Arnold Kaminsky, California State University, Long Beach

• Robert Kapp, Robert A Kapp & Associates

• Gary Mukai, Stanford Program for International Cross-Cultural Education

• Namji Steinemann, East West Center