2005 Eurasian Conference - International High School

The 2005 Eurasian Conference is an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge and interest in history, politics, and international relations as they participate in an 18-week project. Building upon the success of conferences past, all sophomores enrolled in IHS will prepare for the Eurasian Conference, which will be held at the Wheeler Pavilion (on the Lane Country Fairgrounds) on June 3, 2005.

The Global History teachers that oversee the project will help students to synthesize data, information, and concepts that have been acquired in all three sophomore IHS classes: Global Literature and the Arts, Values and Beliefs, and Global History. Students will acquire and practice new skills in the areas of research, writing, public speaking, negotiation, and diplomacy as they apply their knowledge to a number of real-life geopolitical issues. Working in mixed groups, students from four IHS campuses will combine their efforts to analyze cultural, religious, historical, and political obstacles to peace and generate possible solutions to the issues posed in the Conference.

At the outset of the project, students will be assigned into country groups. Each country group will be comprised of students who will study the geographical, historical, cultural, economic, and geopolitical aspects of their respective country. They will then analyze current events and will explore current dilemmas that face their nation. After the students have gained a functional understanding of the country they are to represent, the Global History teachers will provide a list of ten global issues that will be presented to all of the nations at the Eurasian Conference. During the conference, countries will debate, speak, sign treaties, and vote on all of the issues presented by their teachers.

The Eurasian Conference project provides a unique opportunity for International High School students from all four campuses to come together and share their accumulated knowledge in a day-long, large-scale simulation designed to further their communication, negotiation, and group process skills. Students will be given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of current international issues, geopolitical strategies, media literacy, and global history through the gathering, analysis, and synthesis of data from sources such as the University of Oregon's Knight Library, the United States Library of Congress, international newspapers and periodicals, the Internet, guest speakers, and their respective host school libraries.
 

Why is this project important?

The Eurasian Conference is important because it provides an extraordinary forum for students to apply their knowledge about important current global issues. In light of the aftermath of 9/11, the learning opportunities that the Eurasian Conference holds out are more vital than ever. In an interconnected but anxious world it is important for students to seek solutions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, explore the struggle over the state of Kashmir, understand the controversy created by the early development of the U.S. National Missile Defense System, and look at the dimensions of many other powerful global issues such as land mines and the Kyoto Protocol. The Conference project seeks to put students in the driver's seat in an interactive, thought provoking simulation that drives home both the complexity and relevance of these issues. In addition, students who are planning to undertake the International Studies CAM, desire to be diplomats, or are interested in Model United Nations, will benefit immeasurably from the opportunity to participate in a large simulated event that has many of the attributes of an authentic international conference.

This project serves the 4j community by forging ties between students from Eugene's four high schools. International High School sophomores will utilize the resources of the Public Library system and the University of Oregon Knight Library. In doing so, they will become familiar with, and connected to, conduits of higher education in our community.
 

Who, and how many, will be served?

All of the International High School sophomores will be served by the Eurasian Conference. This year's sophomore class comprises approximately 420 students. Among the many students who were deeply moved by the 2004 Eurasian Conference was Richelle Rudeen, who wrote about her experience in the 20Below youth section of the Register Guard. (Richelle's article is attached.) IHS and the 4j School District were also well served by the event. KVAL News showed up to interview students and teachers, and the station broadcast a wonderful story about the conference that evening. In this time of budget cuts, doubts about the future, and anxiety in the realm of education, it was wonderful to see such a positive characterization of our youth and school district. While I cannot promise wonderful news coverage, I do believe that the Eurasian Conference encourages dialogue in the community and in students' homes. It impacts not only the students at the conference but the many people in their lives.
 

How will you evaluate the success of this project?

There are multiple answers to this question. With regard to students' performance, students will be evaluated in several ways. Within each projects group, students will complete coursework that will be evaluated for its quality. Students will analyze research, analyze news stories, debate topics, and write reflective pieces about their experience leading up to (and during) the Conference itself. Student evaluations will cover a range of issues, from knowledge and skill attainment to broad impressions of the value of the project and ways that it can be improved. Both the project work and participation in the Conference will help to determine students' grades for the project. If additional evaluation material or criteria is desired, I can provide it to EEF. With regard to the broader success of the conference, I can offer my personal impressions of last year's conference. The sight of over 400 fifteen and sixteen year-olds of all ability and motivation levels completely focused on complex academic content for several hours straight was unbelievable. In their written reflections on the conference, many students described the day as one of the most powerful educational experiences of their lives. If I see the same passion, energy, and fun that surrounded last year's conference, I will know that the project has been a success.
 

Does this proposal build upon existing programs at your school?

The Eurasian Conference project is fully integrated into the 10th grade Global History curriculum at International High School. As noted above, the class also draws upon prior learning in other IHS classes such as Values and Beliefs, Global Literature, and Global Geography. It is, essentially, an event in which a great deal of knowledge can be synthesized and applied to real world problems. The project has been an annual event for IHS sophomores for a number of years and is considered to be an integral experience for the International High School program of study.

How will the funds be spent?

Rental of the Wheeler Pavilion, supplies, materials for decorating the pavilion, and videotape for recording the event.