Oxbridge+Teacher+Seminar-+Barcelona+(July+2011)


 * Event Title: Oxbridge Teacher Seminar- Barcelona**
 * Date: July 2011**
 * Location: Barcelona, Spain**
 * Name(s) of Attendees: Kate Bloomfield**

Description of Workshops, Classes, Institutes, Etc.:
The Oxbridge Teacher Seminar was a week-long workshop for teachers which covered a variety of topics while engaging the participants in the city of Barcelona. The seminar emphasized the history of Spain and specifically, Catalonia's place in Spanish history. In particular, the Spanish Civil War was greatly emphasized and several of the lectures as well as the visits to sites reflected this focus. For example, in one day, we had a lecture on the impact of the Spanish Civil War on contemporary Spanish and Catalan culture while in the afternoon we visited one of the bunkers that people hid in during the aerial bombardments of this time. In addition to history, there were several lectures and visits that focused on art and architecture. For example, one day we had a lecture on art in Barcelona and then had an informative visit to MNAC (Museu d'Art De Catalunya). In this manner, our lectures and visits were excellent complements to each other.

How I Hope to Apply What I Learned At Ransom, and/or, What My Colleagues Might Try at Ransom:
In terms of countent, I will certainly apply my greater sense of knowledge on Spanish, European, and Catalan history to my World Civilizations as well as Global Studies courses. The lecture on immigration in Spain (and in Europe for that matter) in particular that will be most helpful in my Global Studies course. In addition to all of the information that I gleaned from these lectures and visits, I also learned a great deal from the participants themselves. More than half of the teachers at this seminar were history teachers, and many were 9th grade world history teachers. We shared ideas on the scope and sequence of our courses and I found this just as engaging as the program itself.

What I realized at this seminar is the very importance of experiential learning. By engaging the participants in lecture, discussion, AND experience, learning is most productive and I find that this will make my absorption of knowledge much more memorable. I have learned that I must do this with my students (when possible). All three elements are significant. Although I cannot take my students to these places or the places that we study, I can try and engage them as actively as possible through photos, video, reenactments, etc.

Important Links, Resources, or Contacts:
I highly recommend this program to all teachers, especially liberal arts teachers. I think that Spanish teachers as well would find the seminar quite helpful. The website is [|www.oxbridgeprograms.com].

In addition, here is a PowerPoint presentation that I have created to reflect my experience with the seminar: