About the East Asia Resource Center

The East Asia Resource Center (EARC), part of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington, helps K–12 educators deepen their understanding of East Asia and bring new perspectives into their classrooms. Since 1970, the EARC has connected educators with scholars, museum professionals, authors, curriculum specialists, and fellow teachers through high-quality professional development programs focused on China, Japan, Korea, and broader Asian and global contexts.

As a founding member of the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA), the EARC serves educators throughout Washington and across the Pacific Northwest while welcoming participants from around the United States. Our programs include online seminars, book and film studies, writing workshops, museum partnerships, public lectures, and intensive summer institutes.

Our Approach

We believe that educators are professionals whose expertise and experience deserve both respect and support. Teachers are asked to navigate changing curricula, evolving standards, and complex global issues while meeting the needs of diverse learners. Our role is not to tell educators how to teach, but to provide opportunities to deepen what they teach.

Our programs are grounded in current scholarship and designed to help educators engage with rich content, new perspectives, and meaningful classroom resources. We bring together academic experts and experienced educators to create learning experiences that connect scholarly knowledge with practical classroom application.

This approach reflects one of our core beliefs: meaningful professional development begins with strong content knowledge. While much professional development focuses on instructional techniques and assessment, EARC’s programs emphasize engagement with scholarship, ideas, and resources. By learning from scholars, authors, museum professionals, and primary sources, educators gain deeper understanding of the histories, cultures, literatures, and contemporary issues that shape Asia and its global connections.

Building a Community of Educators

The EARC’s work extends beyond individual programs. We are committed to building a network of educators who learn from one another, share resources, and remain connected over time.

We view professional development as relationship-building as much as content delivery. Whether an educator attends a single seminar or participates in our programs for many years, we strive to create a welcoming community grounded in mutual respect, trust, and collaboration.

We regularly seek feedback from educators to ensure our programming responds to classroom realities and emerging needs. Many participants return year after year, contribute ideas for future programs, mentor colleagues, and help shape the direction of our work.

Partnerships and Collaboration

The study of Asia increasingly benefits from approaches that cross geographic, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries. The EARC works with faculty, museums, cultural organizations, libraries, and educational partners to create programs that reflect the interconnected nature of our world.

In recent years, collaborations with institutions such as the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Seattle Art Museum have expanded opportunities for educators to engage directly with objects, exhibitions, and museum professionals. These partnerships complement our longstanding relationships with university faculty and classroom teachers, creating richer and more interdisciplinary learning experiences.

As both scholarship and education continue to evolve, the EARC remains committed to connecting educators with the knowledge, resources, and professional community they need to teach about Asia with confidence, accuracy, and depth.

Past programs and comments from alumni

Starting from the summer of 2014, most EARC programs are archived on our website. You can also find comments from alumni associated with many of the past programs.

UW partners

The EARC partners with the UW East Asia Center (EAC) and other programs at the University of Washington which provide a wide array of ways for the general public to learn about China, Japan, and Korea.

Funding

EARC activities are supported by grants from the Freeman Foundation, the US Department of Education, and other foundations.

Resource library

In addition to professional development programs, the EARC also maintains a small lending library and an online resource center, with links to trusted materials on the web.