VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
This technology allows students to visually be taken to the exact places that Manfred talks about and allows students to interact with these environments. They have full control over where and what they look at with full 360° images. It literally brings history to life.
How has the technology made you and your students feel?
Hearing pupils gasp with amazement at being taken on a journey much further than the classroom, while still sat in their seats, has compounded my view that this opportunity is so vital for students and will widen their ability to fully comprehend the complexity of the Holocaust. One of my students said: “Testimony 360 allows me to be able to ask Manfred anything I want. I went from Germany to Latvia and saw the places that Manfred described. It was like walking through history.”
What do you think are some benefits of the programme?
Testimony 360 supports the national curriculum, with Holocaust education compulsory, so it gives teachers the resources to teach about the Holocaust in an engaging way. It’s also free of charge to schools and teachers to sign up to and implement from the September term. The Holocaust Educational Trust educators come into the school to deliver the interactive testimony and virtual reality lesson, and bring the headsets and headphones in for the pupils to use. All teachers need to provide are PCs or laptops for pupils. But more importantly than the benefits it has to teachers, thanks to the programme, my students are able to interact even more with this difficult topic, and as a result, extend the learning that takes place in the classroom. History lessons are the perfect place for engaging and inquisitive questions, and who better to answer those questions than those who experienced these events first hand.
What impact do you think the programme will have long-term?
It is at very few points in our curriculum where we are able to call on those who actually experienced these events and unfortunately this will not last forever - but thanks to Testimony 360, generations of students will be able to access these testimonies. Their legacy will never be forgotten and will forever be taught. With Testimony 360 students will be able to continue and develop their learning from the classroom, and allow them to take their learning in whichever direction that they choose. Technology like this will only increase people’s passion and love for our subject as well as ensure that these stories are never forgotten.
Why do you think Holocaust education is more important now than ever? With a rise in anti-semitic behavior and attitudes, it is vital that children are taught about this dark part of human history and that students are aware that the Holocaust did happen. We cannot change the past but we can ensure that our children are educated and morally rounded to ensure that they are respectful of all and that they can make a difference today. It is important that students are learning from their history lessons and teachers, as more and more content becomes available online along with the spread of fake news.
What advice would you give other history teachers and schools who are using the programme?
Ensure that students are well prepared with some questions that they would like to ask Manfred, so that they get the most out of the experience. Enjoy the technology as it is a fantastic piece of equipment and a magical development to the classroom. You should also get as many staff to try, even for a little, so that people from other subjects can also see the experience of Testimony
360 and hear Manfred’s story. Finally, you should get students to reflect on their conversations with Manfred and share their experience, as each student would have taken a different learning direction. You will be fascinated to see what students have learnt.
July/August 2024
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