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

Brand new textbook and Global MOOC course.

20:08 26 Oct 2020
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: Authored by Centre staff, our latest 10 chapter book offers perspective/insight into some of the most complex & con… https://t.co/IRUfRw1BR5
19:15 26 Oct 2020
@UCL_Holocaust: Our MOOC, 'Teaching the Holocaust: Innovative approaches to the challenges we face', in partnership with @yadvashem… https://t.co/lLtWDRqGge
19:11 26 Oct 2020
@UCL_Holocaust: RT: OTD in 1939 Hans Frank is appointed governor-general of Nazi occupied Poland & decrees that all Jews aged 14-60 mus… https://t.co/20WAo36s2l

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