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Focusing on the Middle East and Islam to Promote 21 st Century Skills

Focusing on the Middle East and Islam to Promote 21 st Century Skills. Barbara Petzen TeachMideast /Middle East Policy Council. 21 st Century Skills. Recognize/challenge stereotypes and accept complexity Collect, synthesize, and analyze Information (including media literacy)

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Focusing on the Middle East and Islam to Promote 21 st Century Skills

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  1. Focusing on the Middle East and Islam to Promote 21st Century Skills Barbara Petzen TeachMideast/Middle East Policy Council

  2. 21st Century Skills • Recognize/challenge stereotypes and accept complexity • Collect, synthesize, and analyze Information (including media literacy) • Use established and emerging technology appropriately • Focus on the global context, while seeing local specificity • Collaborate with peers to produce and share learning • Create meaningful connections with global partners

  3. Stereotypes of Islam

  4. Stereotypes of the Middle East

  5. How do we challenge stereotypes? • Challenge stereotypes: deprogram, dismediation (Aladdin) • Diversity of the religion and of its adherents • Prescriptive ≠ Descriptive (ie, describe real Muslims in real life, not just texts or authority figures and doctrine) • Ethical(Values)/Cultural(Aesthetic) vs. Doctrinal/Political (not just the 5 pillars of belief/practice, not just summits and wars) • Specificity and complexity of issues/perspectives • Analogy: Ask the same questions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam

  6. Islam is…

  7. Dealing with Complexity:Arab/Middle Eastern/Muslim

  8. Who’s an Arab?

  9. What is “The Middle East?”

  10. “Muslim World”

  11. Muslim Population by Country

  12. Cultural diversity of Islam

  13. Who Wears a Veil?

  14. Complicating the Issue: Gender and Islam • Gender and religion • do we do this with all religions? • Consider cultural practice vs. religion • The “veil”—changes the public female body by covering it • How does American society influence women to change the public female body? Jerry Hall • Early Islamic reform vs. later stiffening/patriarchy • Islamic feminism vs. control of women • Security and identity issues: state control of women’s dress

  15. Girls in Iran and Turkey

  16. Pushing the boundaries

  17. New Couture

  18. Counter-stereotype:Islam/Iran Rocks! • Islam isn’t stuck in the 7th century for these guys… • O-Hum’s Darvish (lyrics direct from Hafez, 14th c poet) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeN4kfBPx1k Stop Being So Religious What do sad people have in common? It seems They have all built a shrine To the past And often go there And do a strange wail and worship. What is the beginning of Happiness? It is to stop being So religious Like that. ("The Gift" - versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)

  19. Counter-stereotype: Not so Traditional/New Aspirations

  20. Counter-Stereotypes: Virtual Ambitions

  21. Counter-Stereotype: “Pop Culture”Can the Middle East be funny? • Nancy Ajram Coke ad • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35O3udLS83Y • Parody Coke ad • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGvXpJjqLWc&feature=related

  22. New Tools for Deep Learning • Wikis, podcasts, etc—kids create learning • Google Earth • Example: Geography tour • Student-generated learning: research topic, connect to place, find relevant images/videos/music, create synthesis and connection • Where could you go with this? • Integrate with sensory approach: Spices and World Trade • Sunni/Shia: What’s the difference, and why does it matter? • Process is collaborative; also can easily be shared

  23. First Contact

  24. First Contact: Classroom to Classroom • Many organizations provide links between classrooms • iEARN.org • Projects and topics for collaboration worldwide • Global Nomads/Bridges of Understanding • ePals– can be project based or simply e-pal connections

  25. Curricular Angles • Cross curricular reinforcement is key • Humanities: history, ELA, music, art • Science (spices, history of science, hydraulics/mechanics/Rube Goldberg) • Math (Islamic geometric design, algebra) • Economics (where oil prices come from) • PE (debke and other folk dance) • Service projects • Technology (google earth, blogs, movie production) • Projects in any curricular area in conjunction with classes in the Middle East

  26. Best Practices: • Compare! Analogize to what kids already know • Media-rich approach • Humanize: Land Called Paradise • Find real people/anecdotes: “authentic” doesn’t mean “representative”: Inside Islam • Literature, film, internet, blogs • Popular culture and music: O-Hum • Humor: Allah Made Me Funny • Active: Arabic, crafting/art, spices/big maps, Google Earth, connect

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