African Studies Association Teachers' Workshop

The African Studies Association Outreach Council organizes an annual teachers' workshop that provides educators with resources, lesson plans, and professional development on topics tailored to specific grade levels, subject areas, and curriculum frameworks. Prior to 2020, the workshops were held in-person in conjunction with the ASA Annual Meetings. The 2020 and 2021 annual workshops were offered virtually. Educators can view the workshop schedules, resources, and recordings through the links below. 

The 2022 workshop will likely be held remotely with in-person opportunities available for educators who wish to travel to the ASA Annual Meeting taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in November, 2022. Please keep an eye out for information on upcoming workshops on the ASA Outreach Council's website

 

2021 Annual Workshop: Designing the Future: African Visions for a Just World

How do we design just and sustainable futures together? Why is it important to center Africa in our thinking about the future and what can we learn from the African experience toward this goal? The 2021 ASA Teachers’ Workshop brings the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under a critical lens. We see the struggle for a more just world - from the fostering of more equitable North-South relations, the struggle for gender equity, to the dismantling of global white supremacy  - as intricately connected with struggles for the well-being of our whole planet. We know that students and educators are trying to work out their role as agents of change for a more equitable and sustainable world. We also note that demographic changes mean Africa will be central to this future. 

In response,the 2021  workshop sessions explore diverse African visions and work toward a better future. You'll learn why your students need a better understanding of African countries as we move further into the 21st century, then you'll have a chance to explore in more depth. Workshops are organized by subject: history and social studies, literature and language arts, visual arts and music, science and technology. No matter what subject or age-group you teach, the ASA Teachers' Workshop will provide you with ways to incorporate African visions for a just future into your teaching. Learn more...

 

2020 Annual Workshop: Transnational Solidarities

In a context of global struggles for equity, there is urgency to teach about Africa to bring humanity, agency, and accuracy to students’ understanding of the continent and to establish mutual support toward common issues across the Atlantic. The 2020 workshop invites teachers to respond to this imperative through a transnational solidarity lens. Sessions in the four themes explored creative work, diasporic connections, movements for Black Lives, literature and film linking both continents, and local responses to global environmental and health issues, all grounded in a larger context of history. The workshop begins with a welcome and introductions and a cultural performance followed by three sessions of five concurrent live presentations. Educators can choose to attend one presentation during each session or view all the session recordings.  An evening showing of the documentary BlackNBlack closes out the workshop. Learn more and view the workshop recordings...