Independent thinking

The Centre for Holocaust Education is the only specialist institute supporting teachers in the classroom with the best in contemporary research.

Through CPD, resources and our Beacon Schools we help teachers to deepen students’ understanding of the Holocaust so they can think for themselves.

Highlights

We are resolute in our commitment to challenge and address antisemitism in all its forms and manifestations.

20:49 13 Jun 2021
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: 14-20 June is #RefugeeWeek2021. The national theme is 'We cannot walk alone'. Throughout the week we'll be sharing… https://t.co/81zEy9tFAx
20:49 13 Jun 2021
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: In June 1940, the writer & critic Walter Benjamin, was one of many German Jewish refugees from Nazism. After releas… https://t.co/CVH5DGc1Ce
20:49 13 Jun 2021
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: One of the manuscripts Walter Benjamin carried with him as he fled was his reflections ‘On the Concept of History’.… https://t.co/mRLdivHXff

Our lesson 'Being human?' is a perfect tool for nurturing independent learners, incorporating a variety of learning styles. It helps teachers to:

1 Take account of pupils' prior thinking: Uncover preconceptions

Individually, pupils suggest what kind of people they think were the killers and collaborators, bystanders and rescuers.

This tends to reveal a range of stereotypes and misconceptions, from mad, evil monsters to heroes.
2 Focus on evidence: Test the ideas

In small groups, the pupils test their prior thinking and expectations against a range of historical case studies, examining the situations faced by real people.

They discuss and debate the dilemmas and decisions, beliefs and motivations of people in the past.
3 Embrace complexity: Expectations versus evidence

Contrasting their research findings to their prior expectations, pupils discover that the past is far more complex, nuanced and troubling than they had imagined.

They see how easily ordinary people - not monsters or psychopaths - can become complicit in genocide.

“The most challenging, inspiring and useful CPD you will ever do.”

Jane, Head of History, Bolton