How do we talk with students about war: the one ongoing now and the one that ended 80 years ago, but left wounds that have not yet healed?
Our new course is aimed at professional development for teachers who have already started or plan to start systematic teaching of Holocaust history, who are not afraid of difficult historical topics, and who strive to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, respect for human rights, tolerance, and media literacy in their students.
The idea of creating this course has become especially relevant in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine and the beginning of the full-scale invasion, during which Russian troops have committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The methodologies covered in the course can also be applied to teaching other complex and traumatic historical topics.
Course objectives:
The course aims to:
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Systematize and consolidate thematic methodological recommendations for history and civic education teachers (as well as social studies teachers more broadly);
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Help participants improve, expand, or initiate their own methodological work on the topic;
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Promote the introduction of modern approaches to teaching about the Holocaust.
Course format:
The course consists of 10 thematic modules and a final practical assignment. Each module contains a video lecture, an extended outline, materials and/or links for deeper study of the topic, and a short summary test. The final practical assignment involves individually creating a detailed plan for an educational project or event on a chosen topic. Projects will be reviewed by the course instructors or experienced alumni.
Course materials are available for access at any time. Deadlines for submission and review of the final practical assignment are set individually.
The online course was developed by the staff of the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies (UCHS) and implemented in cooperation with leading experts on the topic, with support from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
Course volume: 30 hours / 1 ECTS credit
Start date: June 5, 2025
Link to the course
