How might we use innovative teaching systems, including Internet education, thanks to which we are able to reach many recipient groups? Another objective was to improve the quality of school teaching, especially regarding the schools whose students visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, by means of creating Internet education resources suitable both for schools in Poland and abroad, providing them with a chance of being better prepared to visit the authentic memorial site.
Our intention was to increase the level of education and professionalism of educators by means of the study visits organised between 2016-2017, which consisted of journeys to both countries and visits of memorial sites and educational institutions.
We also wanted to develop a program for people with special needs, and make the memorial site more accessible for everybody.
Another aim was to increase the knowledge of the Museum’s staff about the complexities of Dutch wartime history and increase the interaction between our two institutions.
Last but not least, we wished to create a network of young leaders who could actively be involved in the education carried out by the Museum in Auschwitz-Birkenau and support us in our actions.
The aforementioned objectives have been pursued within five components: the exchange of the expe-rience of teachers and educators during study visits; collaboration to work out new educational materials, especially Internet lessons; adaptation of memorial site visits for the comfort of people with special needs; and training a group of young leaders who could actively support educational actions in their own environment, such as schools and universities.
The final conference gathered many representatives of memorial sites in Poland and abroad, directors, museum specialists and educators who have taken part in various projects throughout these three years.
In addition, among the participants there was also a group of young leaders who met with each other in the framework of this project and discussed how to combine knowledge about Auschwitz and the Holocaust with the problems of today. Two traveling educational exhibitions were helpful in accomplishing this task: "Anne Frank - History for Today" and "I am from Here. Poland of Many Nations”. The content of the exhibitions was an inspiration for young people to discuss human rights protection and education for tolerance.
Dr Piotr Trojański