ICATS Indic Culture and Traditions Seminars

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Training World History Geography Teachers
Other Educators

• Experiences of ICATSA Texas-Registered
  Non-Profit Educational Corporation

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Did you know. . .?

• Most high school social studies teachers have not
  had a course in Asian history or geography.
• Still fewer have taken a course on India.
• Textbook contents about India typically emphasize
  negative aspects such as poverty,
  untouchability, and bride-burning.
• Textbooks teach that Hinduism is polytheistic.

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What we need to do. . .

• Work toward adoption of textbooks which give a
  correct view of India and its traditions.
• Develop means of training teachers on Indic
  culture and traditions.
• Create lesson plans and other teaching aids for
  classroom use.

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What is ICATS ?

• ICATS Indic Culture and Traditions Seminars
  is a Houston-based, educational, non-profit
  corporation registered in Texas.
• ICATS began as a community response to 9/11 and
  has continued to have broad-based community
  support.

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What is ICATS doing?

• ICATS has trained over 600 teachers on Indic
  culture and traditions.
• ICATS has presented sessions on Indic culture to
  500 students, mainly 9th and 10th grade World
  Geography students.
• ICATS has also made presentations to Hindu youth.

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What else is ICATS doing?

• ICATS is working with ESHI and other
  organizations to promote educational seminars
  throughout the USA.
• ICATS assists local groups, including providing
  presenters for initial seminars.
• ICATS provides guidance phone, email, or
  in-person to help groups get started.

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Seminar Topics

• Basic Information on India
• Overview of Indic (Dharmic) Traditions Beliefs
  and Practice
• Additional topics such as yoga, festivals,
  weddings, other dharmic traditions
• Cultural Exposure Food, Music, Dance
• Youth Panels on Experiences in American School
  Systems

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Methods We Use

• PowerPoint Presentations
• Question/Answer Sessions
• Demos Clothing / Yoga
• Dance Performances
• Youth Panels
• Book and Artifact Displays
• Handouts Printed and/or CDROMs
• Indian vegetarian food!

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Where do we hold the seminars?

• Churches
• Schools
• Motel conference rooms
• Community centers
• Consulate-General of Indias Conference Room (in
  April 2005)

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What is needed in a venue?

• Comfortable seating and room temperature.
• Room that can be darkened for presentations.
• Space enough for all activities.
• Good audio and projection systems.

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What are the qualifications needed for a
presenter?

• Good oral communication skills in American
  English.
• Lack of strong accent.
• Good understanding of subject matter.
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of
  attendees and flexibility to make changes while
  presenting to meet those needs.

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What makes a good presentation?

• Presentation that meets the needs of the
  audience.
• Catchy opening.
• Clear organization of ideas.
• Consistency of formatting.
• Visuals excellent quality whenever possible.

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What makes a good presentation?

• Use of concepts/language audience is familiar
  with.
• Limited use of Sanskrit in explanations.
• Broad, non-sectarian view of Dharma.
• Educational purpose only with no attempt to
  convince audience of any view.
• Summary that involves audience and encourages
  action.

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Should the presenter create the presentation?

• Yes
• Presentation may be more suited to presenters
  style.
• This may result in a more natural presentation.

• No
• Author(s) can concentrate on graphics and textual
  content.
• Presenter can focus on delivery and audience
  interaction.

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Should the presenter create the presentation?

• Collaboration of presenter, subject matter expert
  and PowerPoint expert is probably best.
• Review of presentation by others is needed.

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Has ICATS been successful?

• We have the attendees complete evaluation forms
  at the end of each seminar.
• No names are put on the forms, but teaching
  assignment information is requested.
• These are analyzed and changes made accordingly.
• The evaluations are generally strongly positive.

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Participants comments

• It was very moving to have so many volunteers
  come out to share their time and talents with us.
  . . There is no better way to build understanding
  than to reach out to the community as you have
  done.  It is VERY important that teachers
  understand their students' culture and religion,
  and only believers can truly explain their faith
  to others."

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Participants comments

• This seminar gave me information which is not
  available anywhere else.
• There is no comparison to other seminars I have
  attended.
• Very structured and professional

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What can ICATS do with more funding?

• Develop additional presentations on various
  topics needed to broaden teachers education.
• Conduct seminars with specialized topics.
• Provide additional material to teachers attending
  seminars.
• Travel to other areas to present seminars and
  train local groups to continue seminars.

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What else can ICATS do with more funding?

• Hold workshops in which subject matter
  specialists, curriculum coordinators and teachers
  can create lesson plans for classroom use.
• Hire a summer college student intern to prepare
  video documents to enrich the seminar content.
• Provide material on website for
• Teachers.
• Seminar organizers throughout the US.

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ICATS Team Members

• Latha Chari
• Mohan Chari
• Sharad Kulkarni
• Ranjana Narasiman
• Vijay Pallod
• Sridhar Srinivasan
• Chhaya Ubhayakar
• Madhav Ubhayakar
• Beth Kulkarni Project Coordinator