Independent thinking
We help teachers to deepen students' understanding about the Holocaust so they can make meaning for themselves.
The Centre for Holocaust Education is the only specialist Holocaust institute supporting teachers in the classroom with the best in contemporary research.
Highlights
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: @UCL_Holocaust @ralenga @AR_Pearce @OSCE @osce_odihr Working with an inspiring group of school directors from aroun… https://t.co/vdZDm6WFFa
@UCL_Holocaust: Centre's @ralenga @AR_Pearce @ArthurJChapman at @OSCE consultation meeting in Bratislava working on an internation… https://t.co/FvKz70KZYy
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: @UCL_Holocaust team presenting now and debate is in full swing over case studies. Excellent work from… https://t.co/VACEyHjJ8E
A model of independent learning
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.
How much do you know?
Our acclaimed courses
Find a course near you
“The most challenging, inspiring and useful CPD you will ever do.”
Jane, Head of History, Bolton