SQCC Hosts Teachers from Close Up Washington

On Tuesday 11 June, SQCC hosted 20 teachers from Close Up Washington D.C. Every year, Close Up welcomes nearly 2,000 educators from across the country to Washington, D.C. where they explore the city through tours, workshops, and seminars. The insights provided throughout the week aim to enhance teachers’ instructional strategies. The afternoon event led teachers on a guided tour through the Omani cultural exhibition featuring the aflaj (Omani irrigation system), Omani forts, and traditional Omani handicrafts.

After the tour, teachers listened to a presentation focusing on the educational resources available through SQCC’s the Indian Ocean in World History (IOWH) site. Participants also explored SQCC’s newly-launched An Ocean of Paper database containing thousands of indexed waraqas (Omani deeds) from the late nineteenth century. Combined, these resources provide educators with a unique tool for enriching curricula by integrating rich economic and social history from the Indian Ocean into the classroom. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session.