Getting Started

Once you have identified an area of need, begin planning your own workshop. Program directors can offer a range of sessions identified below. Simply select from a menu of program sessions or suggest additional sessions.

The Philosophy of Active Teaching and Learning
Active Learning Tools and Approaches
Assessment and Effectiveness
Human Rights Treaty: A Negotiation Simulation
Using Structured Debates
Technology for the International Relations Classroom
Teaching a Case Study
Global Problems Summit: A Role-Playing Simulation
Using Film, Video and other Alternative Texts
Experiential and Service-Learning
Design-Your-Own Teaching Seminars
Turning Teaching Into Research

Annotated Descriptions of Workshop Sessions

The following are brief descriptions of the workshop sessions we sponsor. The directors would be happy to work with you in designing a workshop program that best fits your institutional needs.

The Philosophy of Active Teaching and Learning

This presentation reviews the history of active teaching and learning approaches and the pedagogical rationale for their implementation. A valuable first session, this establishes the logic of the ‘learning paradigm’ and helps instructors think about designing approaches that meet educational objectives and provides valuable assessment tools.

Active Learning Tools and Approaches

A survey of the many, fascinating approaches available for instructors seeking to enliven the international studies classroom. The session previews other workshop elements as well as catalogues a variety of possible approaches.

Assessment and Effectiveness

Assessment is a central component of active teaching and learning. We discuss various assessment methodologies and rubrics, with attention to the refinement of pedagogy. This session also offers valuable tools for institutional assessment.

Human Rights Treaty--A Negotiation Simulation

This simulation of international negotiations has proven successful in a variety of institutional settings. We introduce the simulation design, then engage participants in negotiation simulations that broaden perspectives on international relations. Designed to run for up to two sessions of the workshop, this simulation experience is extremely rewarding for participants.

Using Structured Debates

Instructors considering implementing debates in the international studies classroom often lack guidelines on a proper organizational structure. In this session we outline debate approaches and step participants through one or more examples that can be implemented in their own classes.

Technology for the International Relations Classroom

This interactive workshop session surveys the range of instructional technology advances and possible applications in the international studies classroom. Directors lead participants through a range of hands-on exercises in a computer lab setting that they can incorporate into their own classes. This session also includes extensive discussion by the group of their experiences with learning paradigm technologies.

Teaching a Case Study

Teaching with case studies involves the development of a story or narrative in relation to broader themes. Cases can be traditional written cases or non-traditional materials such as a news story, opinion article, novel, or work of art. This session explores the incredible benefits of case teaching for the international studies classroom and offers several examples.

Global Problems Summit--a Role-Playing Simulation

This role-playing simulation was developed over a decade ago by the directors and offers an engaging alternative to traditional techniques of instruction in international studies. In two workshop sessions, we introduce and run a version of the summit with participants.

Using Film, Video, and other Alternative Texts

More international studies instructors are incorporating the use of film, video, and alternative materials such as “youtube” clips in their classrooms every day. This session is designed to explore the variety of visual media options available for the international studies classroom.

Experiential and Service-Learning

In this session we introduce the theme of service-learning for international studies courses. We survey the range of alternatives available and describe several of our own experiences. Finally, we engage participants in a rich discussion of ideas about experiential and service-learning projects for their own classes.

Design-Your-Own Teaching Seminars

One of our most popular workshop sessions, we work closely with individual instructors to design their own active teaching and learning approaches to fit educational objectives in international studies. This session can be run before, during, or after other workshop components and truly provides a value-added experience for participants.

Turning Teaching Into Research

Workshop directors have extensive experience as authors of books and articles about active teaching and learning. This session explores ways that participants can contribute to the scholarship in the discipline and promote a broader dialogue on the learning paradigm.