Videoconferencing with Survivors
Video Conferencing (VC) at the Holocaust Centre is supported by History Speaks, an award-winning Holocaust Survivors Online Archive.
The Holocaust Centre VC programme has been piloted 4 times with various schools in 2007-2008. Three of the sessions , were chaired by Dr James Smith, CEO of Aegis Trust, and one by Dr Stephen D Smith. Survivors who participated were Joanna Millan, Steven Frank, Rudi Oppenheimer and Beatha Uwazanika-Smith.
Bob Norton speaks to 180 students at the Mounbatten School in Hampshire on 29th January 2009.
The aim of the programme:
To provide the opportunity to as many schoolchildren in the UK and abroad to dialogue and listen to survivor’s testimony.
Objectives:
• The programme will replicate the process of finding out what the Holocaust is about, how it is relevant to them and then think of an action they will do as a result of listening to the survivor.
• To extend students experience to Rwanda and other genocide survivor’s stories.
• To encourage young people to learn more about the Holocaust and reflect on lessons learnt through History Speaks.
Sample Video Conferencing Programme (75 minutes)
Film
Introduction from the Holocaust Centre, and scoping the session – putting into context of what the Holocaust is, how it happened, and the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day 2010.
Introducing Holocaust Survivor
Survivor Tells His Story
Discussion on
a) What lessons do survivors want us to learn?
b) What legal laws do we have now to prevent the recurrence of genocide?
c) What can we do to pass on the legacy of hope of our survivors?
How to book and prepare a video conferencing session
To book a video conferencing session with the Holocaust Centre, you need to write to historyspeaks@holocaustcentre.net to agree on a time, date and programme. As a general rule, we advise at least 2 weeks advance booking to secure the venue and speakers.
* Our venue is called studio@holocaustcentre.net and our E164 and IP addresses is generated dynamically by JVCS booking service.
* Check availability of the use of video conferencing facilities in your school. You need to let us know what video conferencing equipment you will be using. If you are using a system which is either connected via an ISDN or IP address, we would advise that you do a quality check with JVCS (http://www.jvcs.ja.net/cgi-bin/vcng/welcome.cgi) booking service if you are already registered with JVCS. If you are not already registered with JVCS, the Holocaust Centre will book the session for you. If you require assistance, please call JVCS on 0131 650 4933.
* Agree the programme for the session with the Holocaust Centre and obtain details of speakers and preparatory materials for students.
* Let us know exactly how you plan to prepare your students − how much you have covered, the age and maturity of your students. If possible, please provide a lesson plan/scheme of work so that the session is designed to fulfil the needs and aims of your lesson.
* Copyright issues: recording of sessions is not permitted.
During the video-conferencing session
Adult supervision is required at all times during the video conferencing session.
After the video-conferencing session
* Debrief students after the session, particularly after a session on Holocaust and genocide. Some students may want to talk about the images they have seen and things they have heard.
* Fill in the feedback and evaluation sheet after the session.
Technical preparation
* Contact the Holocaust Centre to arrange a time for a test link.
* Book with JVCS for a test link at least 5 days before the video conferencing.
* Book with JVCS for a video conferencing link for 1:15 minutes with 15 minutes before and after the session.
Student preparation
* Brief students on video conferencing etiquette:
Respect during the session – do not gesture or talk with friends;
Research before the session is important so that better questions are asked.
* Line up the first five questions to be asked so that no time is wasted. Have the students sitting near the microphone to avoid a pause between the questions.
* Write letters or post views on the History Speaks website after the session.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for this programme:
Hockerill Anglo-European College and School of Education, The University of Nottingham for Video Conferencing Equipment.
East Midlands Broadband Consortium and the JANET Videoconferencing Service (JVCS) for the Broadband bandwidth and dial in services.
**2nd June 2009: History Speaks was selected as one of the top content providers by Berrien RESA Teacher’s Choice Awards for the 2008-2009 school year.
Of the Berlin street: “At this point, I felt things really clicked into place and the children began to understand day-to-day life for Jews.” The carriage was engaging and poignant; children really got to see what happened in reality, but in a sensitive way.” “The home was atmospheric and children got a real feel for life in Germany in the 1930s.”
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