News Release

EVENT NEWS / February 28, 2008

Boise State University Writing Project to Host Conference on 'Democracy in Education' March 8

The Boise State University Writing Project will host a conference, “Democracy in Education,” from 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m. March 8 in the Liberal Arts Building on campus. Registration will be in front of Room 106. The conference is free to educators who have participated in the Boise State Writing Project and is $15 for all others.

A sampling of topics includes:

• “The Eight Steps of Genocide: Looking at the Holocaust and Beyond,” presented by Diane Williams. This presentation will explore how intelligent, rational and seemingly “good” societies allow atrocities such as genocide to exist. Participants will explore the eight steps of genocide through a series of short lessons, delving into the roles of bystanders, perpetrators, victims and rescuers. Afterwards, the group will compare and contrast the Holocaust to the current genocide in Darfur.

• “Teaching to the Test,” presented by Debra Smith. This workshop provides participants with the opportunity to re-envision the purpose of their teaching by encouraging ways to re-imagine their curriculum to support that most noble of purposes: nurturing a populace that can sustain a democracy. Specific classroom activities and behaviors that foster democratic participation in the classroom will be included.

• “Multimodal Education for Promoting Different Ways of Knowing,” presented by Christine Baer. Need a powerful and effective method of teaching that addresses the learning styles of all students and engages them in the use of critical thinking skills, analysis and judgment? This workshop will explore how art can be used as a vehicle for learning and allows for individual creativity, creates new and exciting avenues to teach the required curriculum, and helps with information retention.

• “Integrating ELL Students Into the Life of School,” presented by Hester Comstock and Dorota Miejek-Hendershot. Democracy is a concept that is not easily defined nor understood. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to create a lesson that defines and demonstrates democracy in action.

Presenters are working teachers, and many are graduates of the Boise State Writing Project. This conference will feature a special guest, Erika Boas, a Hardie Scholar from Tasmania and the visiting Boise State Writing Project fellow. She will speak about “Civics Education and Social Action Across the Curriculum.”

For a full schedule or for more information, e-mail Jeffrey Wilhelm at jwilhelm@boisestate.edu or Crystal Morehead at cmorehea@boisestate.edu. 



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Media Contact: Julie Hahn, University Communications, (208) 426-5540, juliehahn@boisestate.edu

Boise State University is emerging as a metropolitan research university of distinction. This transformation is being powered by the university’s first comprehensive campaign to support students, faculty, strategic initiatives, research and infrastructure. That’s why the campaign to raise $175 million in private support is called Destination Distinction.

 

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Last reviewed on Thursday, February 28, 2008