Professional Development Workshops for Educators
Professional Development Workshops Support Teaching about Religion, Islam, and the World
Islam is a subject about which whole libraries have been written, yet many teachers perceive it as one of the most difficult topics in the curriculum. It has been required in state standards for well over a decade, along with content on all the world religions, and in the wake of the September 11, 2001 and increased US involvement in Muslim regions of the globe, knowledge about Islam and Muslims is at a premium. It is a daunting task for teachers to prepare material that fits into the limited time available, that meets constitutional guidelines for teaching about religion, is correlated to standards, and is appropriate for various grade and ability levels.
These professional development workshops sponsored by the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding will address the needs of teachers on all of these levels, giving them confidence that they are on solid legal and pedagogical ground, providing content knowledge and helping them integrate the content into their curriculum and standards. Every topic in the flexible, customizable workshops is paired with teaching material that is readily available, and is correlated to national and state academic standards. The teaching resources meet accepted guidelines for constitutionally appropriate instruction about religion. The lessons are designed to help learners engage with excellent scholarship in the field, so that in addition to content knowledge, they develop the critical thinking and geography skills required in every state and district program.
Design a Customized Workshop from Presentation Modules
These workshops are not one-size-fits-all. Professional development coordinators, curriculum specialists, and outreach coordinators can select from the modules to create a half-day, full-day, or even multiple day education development program. Four groups of modules—consisting of basic information, core content, extended content and cross-curricular lessons—offer a menu of presentation material that can be combined to meet the needs of the teacher population to be served within the allotted professional development time. Workshop modules are described below. These modules are accompanied by documentation and online resources that will enable workshop attendees to share what they learned with their colleagues and administrators.
To schedule an ACMCU Workshop:
To download an online workshop request form, click here.
Fill in the form and attach it to an e-mail message to SusanD@CMCUworkshops.net, or fax the form to (202) 687-8376. To confirm, call (703), 442-0638 or send your contact information in an e-mail to the above address and we will call to confirm. Please allow at least three weeks’ notice to get the dates you want.
Registration and Conditions for Participation:
Education workshops are fully funded and free of charge: The Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding offers these workshops at no cost to the hosting institution. ACMCU also provides lunch for the participants.
Hosting organization’s responsibilities: The hosting organization is responsible for providing an audience of at least 25 registered participants. The host is also responsible for providing a venue for the workshop, and the usual AV equipment such as overhead projector, LCD projector, video/DVD player, by arrangement. The host will provide refreshments for participants during breaks. Assistance with identifying local accommodations convenient to the venue site and/or airport will be appreciated.
Handouts: Each participant will receive a Teaching Resource CD. Institutional hosts may be asked in advance of the workshop to provide b/w photocopies of a few materials for hands-on use during the workshop. Any additional materials will be supplied by the presenter.
How to register for a workshop: Download the Workshop Request Form (in MS Word format). Fill out information section completely. Please be sure to name the contact person organizing the workshop, and a reliable phone number and e-mail address.
Customizing the workshop experience: Using pages two and three of the Workshop Request Form, organizers of full-day workshops select from the following categories of presentation modules: one or both basic modules; and two to five content modules per one-day workshop. Three listed topics in the Mini-modules count as one module. See the charts and module combinations to build a sample program, using the downloadable Program and Content Modules and Workshop Request Forms below. Half-day and multiple-day workshops or institutes may include more or fewer content modules, and will be developed in consultation with the organizers. For further information, or for help in selecting modules, contact Susan Douglass for a personalized consultation.
Cancellation: If the host needs to cancel the workshop for any reason, at least two weeks’ notice is required.
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