4. What did I learn about the choices people faced under totalitarian regimes? 5. How did the historical experiences of Jerzy Popiełuszko and Hieronim Dekutowski help me understand the relationship between freedom, courage and responsibility?
6. What had the simulation taught me about responding to injustice in contemporary society?
Students shared selected reflections with their classmates. The activity concluded with a discussion about the importance of historical knowledge, critical thinking and respect for human dignity.
5. Assessment and evaluation
The teachers assessed students ' participation in group discussions, their ability to analyse the dilemmas and the quality of the arguments they presented during the role-play. Particular attention was paid to the use of historical evidence, the consideration of alternative perspectives and the ability to explain the possible consequences of different decisions.
Students were also assessed on their communication and collaboration skills. The teacher observed how effectively they worked in international groups, listened to their peers, expressed disagreement respectfully and contributed to collective decision-making. The individual reflections provided additional evidence of learning. They showed how students had interpreted the dilemmas, whether they had reconsidered their initial assumptions and how they had connected historical experiences with contemporary democratic values.
The activity was evaluated through teacher observation, group presentations, discussion and students ' written reflections. The emphasis was placed on the quality of reasoning and historical understanding rather than on whether students had selected a particular response to a dilemma.
6. Expected Learning Outcomes
The activity helped students develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people living under totalitarian regimes. They recognised that political oppression affected not only public life but also personal relationships, moral choices and everyday decisions. Students strengthened their ability to analyse historical situations, evaluate evidence and consider alternative perspectives. They also developed communication, collaboration and critical-thinking skills through the simulation and group discussions.
The activity encouraged students to reflect on the meaning of courage, freedom and responsibility. By examining historical experiences and considering contemporary challenges, they gained a greater appreciation of the importance of human rights, democratic values and the protection of human dignity. Working in international groups also enabled students to encounter different perspectives and recognise that historical experiences could be interpreted in different ways, provided that interpretations remained grounded in reliable evidence.