World traveler and historian Tom Taylor, chair of the Department of History and associate professor at Seattle University, will speak at CSU on March 8 in a two-part series that includes a brown bag lunch discussion and an afternoon lecture.
The lunch event will focus on the controversial teaching model “Big History,” with an opportunity for interactive discussion about innovations in history teaching and methods. During the lecture, Taylor will tell the story of Thomas Stevens, a 19th century world traveler who circled the globe on his penny-farthing bicycle.
The events are sponsored by the Office of International Programs, the Department of History and the Institute for Shipboard Education (Semester at Sea), and are free and open to the public.
Taylor, who uses stories of individuals or groups to illustrate historical trends, will serve as faculty director of the Semester at Sea Core Course on the Spring 2017 Voyage. In that role, he will teach International Education 300: Global Studies, a required course for every student on the ship. IE300 was developed by CSU faculty and will be taught on every voyage beginning in Fall 2016 when CSU becomes the official host institution for Semester at Sea.
The Big Bang to Global Warming: What is Big History and Can It Transform Our Classrooms?
March 8, 12:15 p.m. – Lory Student Center Rooms 372-374
“Big History,” supported by Bill Gates, is a controversial teaching model that builds connections from the big bang to global warming. “Microhistory” addresses the big themes of world history through localized studies. Which approach best serves our students and society? Bring your lunch and ideas to this discussion about innovations in history teaching and methods.
The Impractical Scheme of a Visionary: Thomas Stevens’ Quest to Travel the World on a Bicycle
March 8, 5 p.m. – Behavioral Sciences 103A
In the 1880s, Thomas Stevens biked around the world on a big-wheeled penny-farthing with minimal gear. Learn more about this amazing adventure and how Stevens understood his journey as a reflection on East-West relations, the bicycle as an instrument of modernity, and his dual British-American identity in the era of colonialism.
