+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Professor Ken Jameson,          | **Professor Jerry Root, Chair,    |
| Principal Investigator**          | International Studies Board**     |
|                                   |                                   |
| **1645 Campus Center Dr., Rm.     | **195 S. Central Campus Dr.**     |
| 308**                             |                                   |
|                                   | **Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0511** |
| **Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9300** |                                   |
|                                   | **Ph: 801-587-9285; Fax:          |
| **Ph: 801-581-4578; Fax:          | 801-585-3581**                    |
| 801-585-5649                      |                                   |
| <jameson@economics.utah.edu>**    | [**jerry.root@utah.e              |
|                                   | du**](mailto:jerry.root@utah.edu) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

**[ABSTRACT]{.underline}, PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP: UNITING UTAH'S K-12
AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATORS TO ENHANCE LATIN AMERICAN AREA STUDIES**

In the last decade, as the Hispanic population in Utah increased 138.3%,
the K-12 system was unable to modify its curriculum fast enough to meet
the challenges of this demographic shift. This project responds to this
challenge by creating a group with the knowledge base to develop K-12
curriculum modules focused on Latin America. The University of Utah's
Latin American Studies Program, Departments of Economics and Languages
and Literature, and College of Education will join with K-12 educators
and the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) to raise the quality of
Latin American Area Studies and Spanish curricula available to Utah's
K-12 students. This collaboration will result not only in curriculum
change, but also in better communication between the University and the
public school system. For four weeks in Ecuador, two University faculty,
three University students-future teachers, and twelve K-12 teachers will
study the central issues facing Latin America: dollarization of the
economy, threats to the environment, the role of indigenous peoples,
outmigration, and Spanish language teaching.

**The main goal of this Group Project Abroad in Ecuador is to enhance
Latin American Area Studies curriculum and Spanish teaching in Utah**
through:

1\. [Providing K-12 teachers with the opportunity to experience
firsthand the vibrant society of Ecuador]{.underline}. Program
participants will become "trainers of trainers," able to instruct other
K-12 teachers in different aspects of Latin American culture and the
Spanish language. These "trainers of trainers" will educate others at
teacher development workshops held throughout the state, thus
disseminating the information gleaned in Ecuador to a larger K-12
teacher population. With their knowledge of Latin American studies, and
their expertise in education, these "trainers of trainers" will also
establish curriculum modules for the K-12 and University levels.

2\. [Responding to Latin American Area Studies curricular needs at both
the K-12 and the University levels]{.underline}. After curricular needs
are established by the joint group of U of U professors and K-12
instructors, the dissemination of Latin American Area Studies curriculum
will occur at meetings geared towards K-12 educators. In Ecuador,
program participants will establish a Latin American Area Studies module
focused on economics, political science, history, and Spanish language
appropriate for K-12 students. This curriculum module will be placed on
the USOE website for all K-12 teachers to access. The U of U will act as
a resource center for Latin American curriculum and social/cultural
issues by continuing to assist with K-12 curriculum development and by
hosting seminars and workshops for K-12 teachers.

3\. [Strengthening the Spanish-speaking abilities of the group
members]{.underline}. The four-week Spanish immersion experience in
Ecuador will provide numerous opportunities for the group members to
practice both their existing and newly acquired Spanish language skills.
By improving their Spanish-speaking abilities, program participants will
better serve the needs of the Hispanic students in their classes,
schools, and districts and will comprehend the intricate and important
link between language and culture as it pertains to the Hispanic
population.

This project ensures that education in Utah reflect the changes evident
in the globalized 21^st^ century. Now, more than ever, Area Studies and
World History are our history. Our partnership will transform isolation
and ignorance into global understanding and responsibility.