Teaching the First Humanities Course at the Yale Center Beijing

Teaching the First Humanities Course at the Yale Center Beijing

November 2, 2017

Diana E. E. Kleiner traveled to China for the first-of-its kind three-day humanities course on Roman Architecture at the Yale Center Beijing.  Her theme highlighted possible contacts between ancient Rome and ancient China and the participants were exceptional high school students interested in international education encouraging critical thinking, innovation, interdisciplinary work, and communication skills.  Discussions in between the lectures were also lively as she suggested that she and the students use their cellphones to locate Roman and Chinese urban designs and building types to compare and contrast.  This in-person experience and others she has had in online education over the last 18 years convince her that there are an increasing number of ways in which global pedagogy, face-to-face or via the Internet, can be totally transformative. The course is now being used as a model for other humanities offerings at the Yale Center Beijing.