Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute 2011

FPA hosted its seventh annual Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute this summer from June 28th - June 30th in New York City.

FPA's seventh annual Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute 2011 took place this year from June 28th - June 30th in New York City. The Institute brought together teachers from across the United States; including New York, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The teachers were able to hear from experts on issues addressed in the Great Decisions 2011 briefing book and share lesson plans as well as resources with one another to enhance their effectiveness when teaching the Great Decisions topics.

DAY ONE

  • Horn of Africa: In the first session, Fabienne Hara, Vice President for Multilateral Affairs, International Crisis Group, spoke about the Horn of Africa. Ms. Hara provided the teachers with a first-hand perspective on the emergence of South Sudan as a new country, as well as conflict in Somalia and the Darfur region.
  • U.S. National Security: in the second session, Mark Galeotti, Clinical Professor and Academic Chair, NYU's Center for Global Affairs, spoke about U.S. National Security, proposing that perhaps defense spending should be focused on intelligence rather than troops and weaponry. He also discussed the current U.S. national security strategy and engaged in a discourse about the possibility of a return to isolationism.
  • Rebuilding Haiti: In the evening session, the Institute guests were treated to a welcome dinner at Scholastic headquarters. Ambassador Federico Cuello Camilo, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, shared his personal experiences in Haiti. He discussed the history of the factors which put Haiti in a difficult position before the earthquake and how, in the rebuilding process, these issues have only been exacerbated.

     

    DAY TWO

  • Sanctions and Nonproliferation: In the morning, Bruce MacDonald, Senior Director, Nonproliferation and Arms Control Program, U.S. Institute of Peace, gave a comprehensive talk on nuclear security, helping the teachers to understand the history of nuclear programs, the motivations for states to acquire them today, and the U.S. priorities for nuclear security.
  • Germany Ascendant: Lunch was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with Elmar Jakobs, Consul for Political Affairs, Consulate General of Germany in New York. Mr. Jakobs discussed the current state of the German economy as well as the future of the European Union, enlightening teachers about German sentiments on conflict and the country's role in the world.

    The Institute participants also received a tour of the gold vault at the bank.


    DAY THREE

  • Crisis in the Caucasus: The morning of the final day, Cory Welt, Associate Director, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES), George Washington University, spoke about the Caucasus. He stressed the many reasons why Americans should pay attention to the region and highlighted the history and conflicts that have created the current tensions there.
  • Pilot Classroom: The final piece of the Institute program was the Pilot Classroom, where one of the participating teachers used a lesson plan on the topic of "Sanctions and nonproliferation," developed at the Institute with a group of volunteer students. Following the lesson, the teachers were able to discuss how the lesson was applied and suggestions to improve it.
    Watch this video to learn more about the Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute.

    Interested in learning more about the Institute? Contact the Programming Department.