2023: In-person (Oxford)

Slavery in the Age of Revolution exhibition, Balliol Historic Collections Center @ St. Cross Church

[Session #1.a.]

Facilitator: Naomi Tiley, Librarian, Balliol College

Facilitator: Aishah Olubaji, Early Career Librarian, Balliol College

The history of Saint Cross Church and  evolution to a historic collections center will be presented, whereby the use and meaning of a space to different people or communities can be discussed. Some objects from the Slavery in the Age of Revolution exhibition will be presented to the whole group. Smaller groups will then get close-up to an artifact to workshop it by exploring a variety of concepts or issues, which can include: observations, perceptions, detail, craftsmanship, power, visualization, bias, framing of objects, framing of history, and representation for how the object might be used in a lesson. 

How Objects Can Be Used to Engage Students @ the History of Science Museum

[Session #1.b.]

Facilitator: Helen Pooley, Learning Producer, Historian 

Facilitator: Dr. Sumner Braund, History of Science Museum

At the History of Science Museum we will examine at how objects can be used to engage students with the topic of transatlantic slavery. Entering the museum's vast Lewis Evans collection of astrolabes serves as a starting point, transitioning over to modeling the process of analysis through the objects of: mahogany and ivory. Using artifacts from the Museum’s handling collection, we will analyze how cultural and scientific objects can reveal to us perspectives, narratives, and experiences of the past.

Pedagogy Reflection Session I @ the Balliol Broad Street Library

[Session #1.c.]

Facilitator: Abigail Branford, University of Oxford Department of Education 

Facilitator: Zaiba Patel, University of Oxford Department of Education 

Zaiba and Abi will draw on the survey responses that had been submitted pre-Institute in order to open up discussions about pedagogical approaches to teaching about transatlantic slavery. We will share current practice, address concerns and challenges, and reflect on how to explore the topic in your particular classroom setting.

Bristol Walking Tour, Bristol

[Session #2.a.]

Facilitator: Tom Allen, Head of History at Merchant's Academy in Withywood

Facilitator: Richard Kennett, Assistant Headteacher at Gatehouse Green Learning Trust

Tom Allen and Richard Kennett, writers on Bristol and Transatlantic Slavery, a textbook for secondary schools as well as A New Focus On the British Empire.

Visit to Georgian House @ The Georgian House Museum

[Session #2.b.]

Facilitator: 

Discover what a Bristol sugar plantation owner’s home might have looked like around 1790. Eleven rooms spread over four floors reveal what life was like above and below stairs. This experience, is guided by docents (as well as self-guided text) that highlights experiences and decisions of John Pinney 

Knowledge Exchange Afternoon @ St. Paul's Learning Centre

[Session #2.c.]

Facilitator: Dr. Marie-Annick Gournet, University of Bristol, lecturer

Facilitator: Dr. Joanna Burch-Brown

Sharing information about the Bristol Global Majority Teachers Network and the Bridging Histories Project.

Pedagogy Reflection Session II @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #3.a.]

Facilitator: Abdul Mohamud, University College London and Justice to History

Facilitator: Robin Whitburn, University College London and Justice to History

Abdul and Robin will present manners to and examples for which participants can reflect on what has been learned, apply a process to teaching practices that emphasize thirteen principles to: guide curriculum, collaborate to consider what is needed to transform the teaching, the images of race, the circumstance of race, and contemporary contexts. Additionally consider this document that was provided, Planning an Enquiry for teaching the Transatlantic Slavery Principles from the HA Fellowship.

Artifacts, Curation, Research, and Publishing @ The Pitt-Rivers Museum

[Session #3.b.]

Facilitator: Melanie Rowntree, Pitt-Rivers Learning Officer for Secondary & Further Education

Researcher: Dr. Mary-Ann Middelkoop, Pitt-Rivers Project Researcher 

Researcher: Dr. Ashley Coutu, Pitt-Rivers Deputy Head of Research 

Curator: Marenka Thompson-Odlum, Research Curator

After a brief time familiarizing oneself with the Pitt-Rivers Anthropology and World Archeology Exhibit, the majority of time is invested in the Research Room with a range of objects from the museum collections of West Africa (the Benin Kingdom), thinking about the links between these kingdoms and transatlantic slavery. The significant learning during this session is the essential aspect of understanding the process of how artifacts are historic and have a history is the presented by the research and curation team. Updates from their (recent and ongoing) archaeological fieldwork in St Lucia, where they have been working on the site of a former 18th-century sugar plantation, trying to understand more about the lives of enslaved people on the plantation with a range of different methods, such as ancient DNA extraction of clay tobacco pipes.

Oxford and Empire Walking Tour @ Oxford University

[Session #3.c.]

Facilitator:?, Uncomfortable Oxford, guide

The Oxford and Empire tour takes participants on a walk of the city that highlights the entanglements between the famous university and the past and present legacies of European colonialism. Starting with Balliol College's ideals of cosmopolitanism, the tour introduces participants to the debates surrounding the abolition of slavery in England as well as the question of reparations, all exemplified by local Oxford examples. Buildings and statues will spark conversations about the intersection between religious missionary ideology and further colonization efforts (including racist ideas) while participants will collaboratively discuss the role of the University of Oxford as a training ground for colonial administrators, but also as the recipient of donations funded by human exploitation.

SOLD Performance Excerpt @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #3.d.]

Performer & Writer: Amantha Edmead, Kuumba Nia Arts

Director: Euton Daley, Unlock the Chains Collective

"To be free is very sweet", an excerpt of: text, song and movement (the full show has live African drumming as an integral part throughout) from the award-winning production celebrating and amplifying the life of Mary Prince. Born into enslavement in the British colony of Bermuda, her extraordinary journey to overcome the brutality of the system became a beacon for the anti- enslavement movement whilst highlighting Britain's role in chattel enslavement.

Reading Against the Grain @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #4.a.]

Facilitator: Dr. Peggy Brunache, Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, University of Glasgow

Facilitator: Dr. Christine Whyte, Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, University of Glasgow

Through our current research - which has revealed a variety of primary sources - on Black women's participation in the plantation economy of the Southern Caribbean (Peggy) and children and childhoods in 18th and 19th century Africa (Christine), we will discuss how to centre new historical narratives and expand our understanding of the Black experience on both sides of the Atlantic.

Oxford University networking session @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #4.b.]

Facilitator: Tim Soutphommasane, Chief Diversity Officer, Oxford University

Facilitator: Marilyn Verghis, Equality and Diversity Unit, Oxford University

Facilitator: Dr. JoAnna Kemp, Equality and Diversity Unit, Oxford University

Facilitator: Dr. Ben Grant, Department of Continuing Education, Oxford University

Facilitator: Dr. Rachael Jones, Department of Continuing Education, Oxford University

Facilitator: Dr. Rachael Jones, Department of Continuing Education, Oxford University

Oxford University's Department of Continuing Education and Equality and Diversity Unit meet with the cohort to share their purposes and goals as the issues and circumstances they encounter intersect with the issues that exist in the world today in the wake of the subjects/topics of the Teachers' Institute. It had been mentioned that two individuals within the Department of Continuing Education (not in attendance) who could be meaningful resources include: Dr. Yasmin Khan and Dr. David Howard.

Navigating Oxford: understanding the resources and support available to support teaching in schools and prospective applicants @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #4.c.]

Facilitator: Pravahi Osman, The David Freeman Outreach Officer, Balliol College

Providing resource support through: the university, departments, colleges, museums, and libraries. This Oxford University presentation provides opportunities for learners and educators to access: meetings, collaborative learning groups, discussion groups, and text-based resources -- blending content and skills.

Summary, experience, and application @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #4.d.]

Facilitator: Abdul Mohamud, University College London and Justice to History

Facilitator: Robin Whitburn, University College London and Justice to History

Facilitator: Colin McCormick, Aslop High School

Abdul and Robin will facilitate a reflection session about the experiences during our sessions spearheaded with the question: how does the Teaching Institute compare or contrast with other continuing education and professional development opportunities. This is followed by an experience and application presentation by Colin McCormick.

Pedagogy Reflection Session III @ the Balliol Pavilion

[Session #4.e.]

Facilitator: Alex Barnes, Head of History and Assistant Headteacher, the John Warner School

Facilitator: Ross Morgan, Subject Leader for History, John F Kennedy Catholic School

Facilitator: Jen Simpson, Teacher of History and English, the John Warner School

The final session of this day provides the opportunity for the cohort to consider the experiences of the week. Small groups are guided to organize for collaboration to create resources that can be utilized by educators to teach the transatlantic slave trade through: artefacts, sources, places, people, interpretations, and positionality toolkits.