Holocaust Education at Universities, Schools, Museums, Documentation Centers and Concentration Camp Memorial Sites

Discussing the crimes of Nazis and the holocaust itself is, and will always be, incredibly important. Universities and non-school education institutions (i.e. museums, documentation centers and memorial sites) continue to bring these topics to the public’s attention. However, they are not alone in keeping the discussion alive: both printed and digital media are allies.

Since 2014 an LMU Munich project group has made it their task to tackle "Holocaust Education". The project group researches how holocaust education is taking place, then searches for new and more effective approaches to the education. When conducting their research they look at the educational work of schools and non-school institutions. To do this they examine the educational activities conducted by the: guides, teachers and/or lecturers. Additionally, they reflect on the importance of the media, exhibits, framework conditions and materials. For example, reflecting on the educational requirements of schools and universities.

The project is centered on the following questions:

• Who is part of constructing contents and approaches?
• For what reasons are they engaged in this?
• What are the goals of the education?
• What roles do media and witnesses play?

Answers to these questions will contribute to a "theory of communication", which takes into account the different participants (teachers/guides/instructors, students and witnesses), contents and media from (non-)school environments. The underlying goal is to open up an approach that is meaningful and effective for both learners and educators. The approach is supposed to range from emotional closeness to historical distance, as well as offer many points of contact for all parties involved. The aim is that educational institutions will incorporate the results of the project group’s research when conducting holocaust education.