Ping Teacher Workshops
About Teacher Workshops
Teachers throughout Ohio and the surrounding region are invited to participate in one-day Ping Institute workshops for high school humanities teachers. The workshops—offered on Saturday during the academic year—are sometimes organized in conjunction with the School of Theater at Ohio University so that participants have the opportunity to attend a performance of the play under discussion.
Recent Workshops
2023
April 15: History and Development of a Folklore of Espionage in 20th Century
The Charles J. Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities presents a free workshop for high school teachers on “The history and development of a folklore of espionage in the 20th century” at the Ohio University Zanesville Campus.
This workshop will be led by Dr. Korcaighe P. Hale, Associate Professor of History at Ohio University.
Folklore studies emerged in the 19th century with the examination and taxonomic codification of specific motifs of folktales across the world. In this workshop, we will use the techniques of folklore studies to develop a taxonomy of the folklore of espionage, largely as depicted in the American popular culture of the 20th century. Once we have our major motifs established, we can examine how those motifs have remained constant (or not) through the history of the Cold War (and maybe beyond). What elements of the folklore changed? Why did they change? To what extent did the ‘real’ history affect the folklore, if at all?
Participation is free. The workshop is limited to 15 participants to enable a lively discussion. Certificates will be available to provide a record of the workshop contact hours.
To register for the workshop, please send an email to the Fred Drogula, the Director of the Ping Institute, at: PingInstitute@ohio.edu.
Feb. 18: All is (Almost) True: Shakespeare’s Biography”
The Charles J. Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities presents a free workshop for high school teachers on Shakespeare's biography titled “All is (Almost) Time.”
The workshop will be held on the Athens campus of Ohio University on Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The workshop will be led by Sam Crowl, Trustee Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University, and will feature a screening of Kenneth Branagh's 2018 film All is True which gives a dramatic account of Shakespeare's last years in Stratford after the burning of The Globe during a performance of Henry VIII in 1613. The movie is based on a screenplay written by the English comedian Ben Elton and stars Branagh as Shakespeare, Judi Dench as Anne Hathaway, and Ian McKellen as the Earl of Southampton.
The workshop will begin with some background information about Branagh and his career-long fascination, as an actor and director, with Shakespeare, after which we will screen the film. After a break for lunch, we will regather to discuss the film, what we know about Shakespeare's biography, and the continuing controversy about the authorship question: Did Shakespeare write Shakespeare?
To enhance the latter discussion, the participants will be sent several chapters from James Shapiro's excellent book Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? to be read in preparation for the workshop.
Participation is free. The workshop is limited to 15 participants to enable a lively discussion, and lunch will be provided by the Ping Institute. Certificates will be available to provide a record of the workshop contact hours. To register for the workshop, please send an email to the Director of the Ping Institute, Fred Drogula, at PingInstitute@ohio.edu.
2022
Feb. 19: Ping Institute offers teacher workshop on 'Studying Latin Manuscripts' through the Ohio University collection
The Charles J. Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities presents a free workshop for high school teachers on “Studying Latin Manuscripts through the Ohio University Collection.” The workshop will be held online from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 19, 2022.
This online workshop for high school teachers will be led by Neil Bernstein, Ph.D., professor of Classics & Religious Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Miriam Intrator, Ph.D., special collections librarian at Ohio University. Bernstein is the author or co-author of seven different books on a wide range of Latin authors. Intrator is responsible for rare books and is the liaison librarian for honors programs at Ohio University.
This workshop introduces participants to the basic elements of medieval Latin texts by examining selected leaves held in the Ohio University special collections.
"We’ll begin by discussing the formation of the collection through purchases and donor gifts. Then we will look at examples of various scripts, including Gothic and humanistic hands, as well as manuscript illumination and decoration. We will gain familiarity with reading the scripts and identifying textual variants through transcription and textual criticism exercises that can be easily adapted for the high school classroom," Bernstein said.
No prior knowledge of Latin palaeography is assumed, only basic competence in Latin. Those participating in the workshop will be asked to complete five short, self-paced tutorials introducing the Ohio University Latin Bible and various manuscripts held in Ohio University special collections.
Participation is free. The workshop is limited to 15 participants to enable a lively discussion. Certificates will be available to provide a record of the workshop contact hours for their local professional development committees.
To register for the workshop, please send an email to Director of the Ping Institute Fred Drogula, Ph.D., the Charles J. Ping Professor of Humanities and Professor of Classics in the College of Arts & Sciences, at PingInstitute@ohio.edu.
2021
Nov. 13: Ping Institute Teacher Workshop | Competition Among the Jihadis: ISIS, Al Qaeda and Beyond
The Charles J. Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities proudly presents "Competition Among the Jihadis: ISIS, Al Qaeda and Beyond," a workshop for high school teachers led by Dr. Nukhet Sandal.
The workshop will be held online from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 13, 2021.
- Those wishing to register for the event should email the Director of the Ping Institute, Fred Drogula, at pinginstitute@ohio.edu.
There has been a lot of attention on jihadi groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda. We have a tendency to put all jihadi groups into one category and see them as the same type of organizations. However, there are high levels of competition and animosity within the jihadi world. Most recently, we have seen an increased ISIS activity in Afghanistan.
ISIS aims to undermine Taliban rule and prevent Al Qaeda's further expansion. This workshop will delve into the history of ISIS and investigate its tensions with other jihadi groups, including Al Qaeda. We will discuss different theological and political approaches of these groups; important figures to pay attention to; their goals and priorities; and the future of jihadi movements.
Sandal is associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Ohio University. She is the author of Religious Leaders and Conflict Transformation (Cambridge University Press, 2017) and Religion and International Relations Theory (with Jonathan Fox; Routledge, 2013). She has written many research articles and book chapters focusing on religion, violence and politics. Her most recent article, "Framing Religious Outbidding: Al-Qaida, Islamic State, and Intra-Religious Competition," was published in Politics, Religion, and Ideology in August 2021.
Participation is free and participants will be provided with a copy of the book, A History of ISIS by Fawaz A. Gerges (Princeton, 2017). The workshop is limited to 15 participants to enable a lively discussion. Certificates will be available to provide a record of the workshop contact hours for their LPDC.
2016
Nov. 19: Culture and Coal in Appalachia
The workshop featured Dr. Geoff Buckley and Robert Gipe. Buckley, Professor of Geography at Ohio University, is the author of Extracting Appalachia and Mountains of Injustice. The session also featured a discussion with Gipe, award-winning Appalachian author of Trampoline: An Illustrated Novel.
2015
April 18: The Case of the Novice Novelist: One Mystery Writer's Journey
The workshop leader was Andrew Welsh-Huggins, author of Fourth Down and Out. Welsh-Huggins, a reporter and author of the Columbus-based "Andy Hayes" private detective series, telling how he turned a childhood love of reading and writing into his dream of writing mystery novels. He revealed how some unusual life experiences, from living in an Irish-speaking village to volunteering on an Indian reservation to witnessing several executions, helped shape his world view.
2014
Nov. 8: Landscape and Community: Utopian Approaches to Healing
The Workshop Leader was Dr. Katherine Ziff, author of Asylum on the Hill. Ziff is a scholar of psychiatric history and asylums. She is a public school mental health counselor and an artist. Ziff has published articles in History of Psychiatry, Counselor Education and Supervision, Creativity in Mental Health, Chrysalis, New Research in Mental Health, and elsewhere.
April 5: William Shakespeare's As You Like It
Your workshop organizer will be Dr. Sam Crowl, Trustee Professor of English and Founding Member of the Ping Institute. Other speakers include Professor Jill Ingram (English) and Shelley Delaney (Theater). The workshop, which is free, will begin at 2:30 p.m. and includes a ticket to the 8 p.m. evening performance of the play at the Ohio University Forum Theatre.
2013
Nov. 2: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus
Your workshop leader will be Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Associate Professor of English at Ohio University, a specialist in Nineteenth-Century British Literature. In the morning, we will discuss Mary Shelley's classic novel and in the afternoon screen the classic 1931 version of Frankenstein featuring Boris Karloff as the Creature. This workshop is free and begins at 9:30 a.m. with a break at lunch then concluding a 4 p.m. A completed registration is required in order to attend and must be filled out by Monday, Oct. 25.
March 3: LYSISTRATA by ARISTOPHANES
The very first workshop of the new year will begin with a discussion of the play LYSISTRATA written by ARISTOPHANES. The workshop will be led by Dr. Tom Carpenter, The Charles J. Ping Professor of Humanities and the Director of The Ping Institute and Professor of Classics. Completed preregistration is required in order to attend and must be filled out by Feb. 18.
2012
Oct. 20: Homer's The Odyssey led by Dr. Jim Andrews
The first workshop of the new school year begins with a screening of the Cohen Brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". The discussion will focus on the countless allusions to the Odyssey and also the art of allusion itself.
April 21: William Shakespeare and Julie Taymor's The Tempest on Film
The Tempest viewing and discussion was led by Dr. Sam Crowl, Trustee Professor of English and Ping Institute Fellow. During this day-long workshop, we screened Julie Taymor's recent movie of the play in the morning and returned in the afternoon to discuss its myriad transformations of Shakespeare?s play into a film narrative.
2011
April 30: Benjamin Franklin, Window into Early America
This workshop focused on Benjamin Franklin and was led by Dr. Tom Scanlon, Associate Professor of English, and Dr. Jessica Choppin Roney, Assistant Professor of History.
Feb. 26: Moliere's Misanthrope directed by David Haugen
The first workshop of 2011 included will an afternoon class discussion and an evening performance of Moliere's Misanthrope directed by David Haugen at Baker Theater in Kantner Hall. The workshop was led by Dr. Lois Vines, Trustee Professor of French.
2010
May 15: William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost
This workshop included class discussion and a matinee performance of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost directed by Shelley Delaney at Ohio University's Kantner Hall. Workshop Leaders: Samuel Crowl, Ping Fellow and Trustee Professor of English, and Jill Ingram, Assistant Professor of English.
2009
May 16: William Shakespeare's The Tempest
This workshop examined one of William Shakespeares most famous pieces, The Tempest. Director Andy Felt took part in the workshop group discussion. Workshop Leader: Samuel Crowl, Ping Fellow and Trustee Professor of English.
2008
Nov. 15: John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is John Steinbeck's Depression-era classic that centers on the Joad family, who along with thousands of other sharecroppers, were driven from their Oklahoma home by drought and exploitation of the land and its people. We follow their epic journey as they, along with thousands of other Dust Bowl refugees, set out for California's Central Valley in search of the golden promise of work, justice, and dignity. This workshop focuses on Steinbeck's novel and the Ohio University School of Theater production, powerfully adapted for the stage by Frank Gallatti. Workshop leader: William F. Condee, Professor of Theater
May 17: "Knock Me a Kiss" - W.E.B. Du Bois, Countee Cullenand the Harlem Renaissance
William Condee, Professor in Interdisciplinary Arts and a Ping Institute Professor, will present a workshop for secondary teachers in the spring on Saturday, May 17, 2008. Dr. Condee will lead a workshop on Charles Smith's play, Knock Me a Kiss.
Feb. 22: The Reinvention of Liberal Learning in America
Faculty Seminar: Donald Levine, former Dean of the College at the University ofChicago will lead a faculty seminar on February 22; discussion will focus on his book, The Reinvention of Liberal Learning in America,followed by drinks and dinner. This seminar will be open to all OhioUniversity faculty who teach humanities courses.
2007
Nov. 17: The Shakespeare Films of Kenneth Branagh
This workshop examined the signature cinematic qualities Kenneth Branagh brings to translating Shakespeare from page to stage to screen.
Sept. 13: Wine and Cheese Social
An informal social that helped introduce junior faculty with senior faculty from other departments within humanities.
March 10: The World of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: Love and Marriage in Chaucer's Tales of the Merchant, the Franklin and the Wife of Bath
This workshop closely examined three of Chaucer's tales in order to gain a better understanding of the ways these works represent the social and religious world of the fourteenth century. Discussion focused on medieval ideas about sexuality and virginity, women's roles, marriage as a sacrament, and other theory issues that engaged Chaucer and his contemporaries.
2006
Nov. 4: Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors
William Condee, director of the School of Interdisciplinary Arts, lead the discussion of the play during the afternoon. In the evening, participants enjoyed a performance of the play presented by the Ohio University School of Theater.
April 22: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Victorian Literature and the Protestant Work Ethic
This workshop examined the short novel within the framework of Dickens' contemporaries in order to gain a better understanding of how this classic speaks from and to a particular time and place: London in the early years of Victoria's reign. Discussion focused on Dickens' involvement in shaping religious debates about the status of "things" and "worldliness" in an age when Empires and Industry were creating a deluge of exotic products and temptations - not forgetting that literary works were among the most important of those.
2005
May 7: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Samuel Crowl, trustee professor in English and author of the books Shakespeare Observed: Studies in Performance on Stage and Screen and Shakespeare at the Cineplex, lead the workshop in conjunction with the Ohio University School of Theater production of the play.
2004
November 6: African-American Writers of Ohio
Secondary school teachers attending this workshop learned from presentations and discussions led by Dean McWilliams (J. Richard Hamilton/Baker & Hostetler Professor of Humanities and Professor of English, Ohio University), Crystal Anderson (Assistant Professor of English, Ohio University), and Herbert W.Martin (Professor Emeritus of English and Poet-in-Residence, University of Dayton). They discussed works by one author each: Charles Chestnut, Toni Morrison, and Paul Laurence Dunbar, respectively.
May 1: The Gods Are Not to Blame
This workshop for school teachers surrounded the production of the play by the Ohio University School of Theater. The Gods are Not to Blame was penned by Ola Rotimi, one of Nigeria's leading playwrights. The play is an adaptation of the Oedipus myth to address contemporary issues facing Africa and the world.
Feb. 28: Staging Romeo and Juliet
Samuel Crowl, trustee professor in English and author of Shakespeare Observed: Studies in Performance on Stage and Screen, led this afternoon workshop in conjunction with the Ohio University School of Theater production of the play.
2003
Nov. 15: John Steinbeck
This workshop for school teachers was conducted by Bob Demott from the Ohio University Department of English.
April 12: Rediscovering Poe
Lois Vines, James S. Reid Professor of Humanities and professor of French, and Paul Jones, assistant professor of English at Ohio University, led presentations and discussions surrounding the works of the late, great American author.
2002
Nov. 16: Staging Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis
With presentations and discussions from Thomas Carpenter, Charles J. Ping Professor of Humanities and professor of classics; William Owens, chair of the classics department at Ohio University; and Midori Nohara, director of the Ohio University School of Theater's production of Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis,this day long workshop was followed by a performance of the play.
April 13: Native Americans Studies Initiative
Co-sponsored by the Great Lakes American Studies Association as a part of their 2002 GLASA Annual Conference, this Institute endeavor was composed of panels on a variety of topics in Native American Studies, including literature and the oral tradition, history, contemporary art, stereotypes and mascots. Panels were also held on methods of teaching Native American Studies, including a range of methodologies and technologies, from interactive software to storytelling. The event brought with it an exhibit of teaching materials, including the Cradleboard Project, Teaching Tolerance and the Smithsonian. The workshop closed with a performance of dancing, singing and drumming by the Shki Bmaadzi Singers, a performance troupe with ties to the Urban Natives of Chicago, a youth organization that promotes community service and leadership among Native American youth.
2001
Nov. 10: Staging As You Like It
Samuel Crowl, trustee professor of English, and Robert Ross Parker, director of the Ohio University School of Theater's production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It, led presentations and discussions surrounding staging this Shakespeare classic. The day long workshop was followed by a performance of the play.
2000
Nov. 11: Staging The Glass Menagerie
Culminating in an Ohio University School of Theater production of the play, this one-day workshop included presentations and discussions led by Dean McWilliams, the Baker & Hostetler Professor of Humanities and professor of English; and Robert McMaster, the director of the Ohio University production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.
April 6: At the Movies: Teaching Women's History through Feature Films
Katherine Jellison, associate professor of history and specialist in U.S. women's history, led this workshop, which examined film clips and opened discussion on women in films. It was followed by the feature film Hester Street.
March 11: Staging Shakespeare's Dream
Including presentations and discussions with Samuel Crowl, trustee professor in English and author of Shakespeare Observed: Studies in Performance on Stage and Screen, this workshop also offered a viewing of A Midsummer Night's Dream performed by the Ohio University School of Theater.
1998
February 24: Interpretations of Antigone
A workshop on interpretations of the works by both Sophocles and Jean Anouilh, the program coincided with a performance of Sophocles' Antigone by the Ohio University School of Theater.