[ BACK to "AAS Book Prizes, Awards, and Citations" Main Page ]

Established in 1995 by the Association for Asian Studies, the Committee on Educational Issues and Policies (CEIP), and the Committee on Teaching about Asia (CTA), the Franklin Buchanan Prize is awarded annually to honor an outstanding curriculum publication on Asia at any educational level, elementary through university.

Below is a list of the past winners of the Franklin Buchanan Prize.

2007 Franklin Buchanan Prize

GREGORY FRANCIS AND STEFANIE LAMB

China’s Cultural Revolution, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), 2005

The 2007 Franklin Buchanan Prize is awarded to Gregory Francis and Stefanie Lamb for China’s Cultural Revolution, a highly informative curriculum unit that combines outstanding scholarship with innovative instructional strategies to teach about the social, cultural, educational, political, and economic changes during the decade of the Cultural Revolution in China.

Presenting information about China in a broader, world history context, this comprehensive unit offers an excellent investigation into the topic through its effective use of primary source materials and an impressive array of hands-on activities, emphasizing multiple perspectives and requiring critical thinking skills. Although the materials are geared to high school students, some of the lessons are easily adaptable and could be taught at the undergraduate as well as the middle school level. The background materials are useful for educators at all levels.

Selection Committee: Namji Steinemann, Chair; Mary Cingcade; Marleen Kassel; Scott MacLeod; Lesley Solomon

2006 Franklin Buchanan Prize

THE CHINA INSTITUTE IN AMERICA

From Silk to Oil: Cross Cultural Connections along the Silk Roads

The 2006 Buchanan Prize for curriculum materials dealing with one or more of the countries and cultures represented by AAS goes to the China Institute in America, for the curriculum guide From Silk to Oil: Cross Cultural Connections along the Silk Roads, acknowledging the special contributions of Morris Rossabi, Marleen Kassel, Ronald G. Knapp and Martin Amster to the success of this project.

To create this guide, a talented team of scholars, curators, curriculum developers and editors worked together to produce a well-crafted unit about the global interconnectedness of China, Central Asia and West Asia. The background readings, maps, primary sources, images and lesson plans in both hard copy and CD-ROM are intended for a high school audience, but also may be adapted for use at the middle school and early college levels.

The scope of this multidisciplinary curriculum guide nicely equates with the vast region it addresses. Specific topics include geography, ethnic and political history, the exchange of goods and ideas, religions, and the arts, but it is in highlighting the conceptual and organizational approaches related to comparative civilizations and thematic histories that From Silk to Oil becomes a state-of-the-art educational product. Its success is sure to serve as a model for similar initiatives in the future. Thus in recognition of this outstanding work, the Committee on Teaching About Asia awards the 2006 Buchanan Prize to the China Institute of America.

Selection Committee: Nancy Francesca Hope, Chair; Mary Cingcade; Clayton Dube; Jean Johnson

2005 Franklin Buchanan Prize

DONALD AND JEAN JOHNSON

India: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (Asia Society, 2003)

The Franklin R. Buchanan Prize is awarded to Jean and Donald Johnson for the sourcebook India: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. This is among the best compilations of teaching materials on India yet attempted. It is a well written, user friendly aid that contains a plethora of materials, all innovative and creative. It is appropriate at any educational level from the elementary, as a source for teachers, to the graduate level in teacher education, as well as in adult education. When the materials are utilized in the classroom they are extremely effective in countering cultural misperceptions.

Many secondary teachers of World History or Asian Studies are reluctant to teach about India because of their own lack of knowledge in the area. The wealth of inform-ation not to mention superb structure and ease of access provided by this source book gives those educators a sound platform. Several of the activities and source materials presented in India: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives are also accessible via the AskAsia website of the Asia Society.

Donald and Jean Johnson have for decades served the field of Asian Studies education by their own scholarly research and curriculum writing, and by educating and encouraging generations of teachers throughout the country. Therefore, it is particularly appropriate that the Buchanan Prize, named for a great teacher of Asian Studies educators, be awarded to Donald and Jean Johnson, outstanding contributors to the study of Asia and India in particular.

Selection Committee: Namji Steinemann, Chair; Casey Asato; Mary Cinqcade; Nancy Hope; Colleen Kelly.

2004 Franklin Buchanan Prize

WAKA TAKAHASHI BROWN

Religions and Philosphies in China: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, Institute for International Studies, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education

Religions and Philosophies in China: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism is an in-depth teaching unit comprising a series of excellent lesson plans that include interesting background readings, maps, a wonderful selection of primary sources, important visual images, relevant worksheets and bibliographies. Not only does this unit offer a wealth of information and materials for students in the classroom but can also be use in professional development courses for teachers.

Ms. Brown has succeeded in presenting Chinese philosophy and religion in such a complete and organized manner that educators at all levels, from elementary to early college, can utilize this material. This is a great service to the education community because these three great world views are crucial to understanding the development of Chinese society. This teaching unit will be of great use for many years to come.

In recognition of this exceptional work it is a great pleasure that the Committee on Teaching About Asia awards the 2004 Buchanan Prize to Waka Takahashi Brown of the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education.

2003 Franklin Buchanan Prize

LINDA MENTON, EILEEN TAMURA, NOREN LUSH, CHANCE GUSUKUMA

Rise of Modern Japan, University of Hawaii

Rise of Modern Japan, comprising a textbook, teacher’s manual, and CD, is evidence of the excellence that can be reached in the creation of educational material when the multiple talents of specialists in K-12 education, curriculum development, and Asian Studies are combined. The material provides students with academically sound text and context with which to understand Japanese history and society. It further integrates many primary source documents directly into the text, thereby bringing the historical narrative to life. Complementing the text are stunning full-color photographs, useful maps, interesting illustrations, and other relevant visual materials along with a music CD, all of which combine to deliver a product that is not only highly educational, but also informative, balanced, enjoyable, and appealing to all types of learners.

In short, Rise of Modern Japan is an outstanding contribution to the study of Japan and to the field of Asian Studies at the secondary level and serves as a brilliant example of how university and K–12 educators can work together to further the field of Asian Studies. In recognition of this outstanding work, it is with great pleasure that the Committee on Teaching About Asia awards the 2003 Buchanan Prize to Linda Menton and her co-authors at the University of Hawaii.

2002 Franklin Buchanan Prize

THE CHINA STUDIES FACULTY, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

"Contemporary Chinese Societies: Continuity and Change" offers a tremendous range of words, images and sounds to learners of various levels. It combines high scholarly quality with aesthetic appeal and user-friendly technology. This CD-ROM allows students to learn about the main gist of its topic areas, and then explore more in depth at their leisure. The lucid text, high quality photos, relevant music, excellent maps, and short movie clips all combine to make a piece which can be used equally well by individuals or by an entire class. The content will be of use not only in high school and college level classrooms, but also for the business community, the media and the general public. In recognition of this outstanding work it is with great pleasure that the Committee on Teaching About Asia awards the 2002 Buchanan Prize to the China Studies Faculty of the University of Pittsburgh.

2001 Franklin Buchanan Prize

YONG JIN KIM CHOI, The Korea Society

The series "Korea: Lessons for Grades 1–12" brings together an immense amount of information about Korean society in a form useful and interesting for both students and teachers. Yong Jin Kim Choi has lead a talented team in assembling these materials into three lesson books with readings, worksheets, reproducible illustrations and appropriate suggestions for further activities and readings. These well-organized books offer teachers and students the opportunity to learn about Korean literature, history, geography, economy and politics. They address issues of the Japanese occupation and the cold war division of Korea, and contextualize these issues through use of first person narratives. The series also engages learners of all ages in issues of globalization, and of Korea’s relationship to the US, both geographically and politically. In recognition of this outstanding work it is with great pleasure that the Committee on Teaching About Asia awards the 2001 Buchanan Prize to Yong Jin Kim Choi.

2000 Franklin Buchanan Prize

ROBERTA MARTIN, The East Asian Curriculum Project, Columbia University

As general editor of Contemporary Japan: A Teaching Workbook, you have led a talented team of editors, educators, and Japan specialists in the transformation of print material into an electronic curriculum resource. While some portions of this workbook were originally published in the 1980’s, your unique contribution lies with the addition of web links within each section, new and expanded units on literature, as well as revised and redesigned units on Japan’s economy and foreign trade. Thus, the entire curriculum resource, through its web linkages, is kept continually up-to-date while simultaneously maintaining the presence of classic units in areas such as geography, religion and history. Most significantly, this entire curriculum project is now freely accessible to educators at all levels. For your innovation in adapting and expanding traditional material to take advantage of the educational potential of the web, the Committee on Teaching About Asia is delighted to award you the year 2000 Franklin Buchanan Prize.

1999 Franklin Buchanan Prize

STEVEN I. LEVINE, The Mike and Maureen Mansfield Center, University of Montana

The China Box and its companion piece, ChinaTalk, A Handbook for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents, represent an innovative educational package that combines strong scholarship with novel pedagogical strategies to enhance and enrich the study of China at the intermediate and middle school grades. In this artifact trunk and accompanying lessons and activities, you have created a highly effective vehicle for engaging young learners in the study of China through the analysis of authentic materials—artifacts of everyday Chinese life, culture, and education, as well as stories, folktales, and poetry in translation.

Through The China Box and ChinaTalk, you have made significant contributions to correcting stereotypes and misinformation while constructing a rich picture of contemporary China. Moreover, by writing for young students, educators, and, notably, parents, you have produced a powerful tool for broadening study of and conversation about China.

In recognition of the high quality and creativity of this curriculum package, the Association for Asian Studies and the Committee on Teaching About Asia is pleased to award you the 1999 Franklin Buchanan Prize.

1998 Franklin Buchanan Prize

LYNN PARISI, The Rocky Mountain Region Japan Project

As Project Director and lead author of "A Humanities Approach to Japanese History," a series of curriculum units that also includes lesson contributions by Anne Stevens, Sara Thompson, Patterson Williams and others, you have constructed a uniquely flexible set of materials that combines introductory essays, documents, slides and suggested teaching strategies into a very effective whole. Because this work so nicely shows how sophisticated Asian Studies materials can be made more accessible to our schools, the Association for Asian Studies is delighted to declare you the winner of this year’s Franklin Buchanan Prize.

1997 Franklin Buchanan Prize

GARY M. MUKAI, Stanford University

In choosing you as the first regular recipient of the Association for Asian Studies' Franklin Buchanan Prize for the development of curricular materials, the Committee on Educational Issues and Policies wishes to recognize not only your effective compilation of a wide variety of interesting documents, some of which are from personal family files, that deal with cultural conflicts as diverse as Japanese immigration to the U.S. and the more recent trade disputes, but also your commitment to helping teachers particularly at the high school level deal with material that can often be unfamiliar to them. By developing effective lesson plans that broaden our nation's understanding of Asia, you have greatly contributed to one of the fundamental purposes of our professional association. We salute you.

1996 Franklin Buchanan Prize

JACKSON BAILEY

In selecting you as the special first recipient of the Franklin Buchanan Award, the Association for Asian Studies both honors your long standing commitment to the development of innovative teaching materials, and applauds the time and energy you have put into helping teachers at all levels of our educational system. Your work sets the standards by which future winners of this prize will always be judged.