European Network of Testimony-based Digital Education: Development of Key Competences and Civic Engagement

Summary

The partnership has produced high-quality methodological materials that effectively support the development of children’s critical thinking and media literacy, while also strengthening their understanding of democracy and their ability to recognise disinformation. 

“Teaching with survivor and witness testimonies (multimedia sources) and interpreting these primary sources to develop key competences and critical thinking is hugely innovative, something that is unique in educational practices.” 

Topic(s) addressed 

• Democracy
• Civic engagement
• Media literacy
• Tackling disinformation 

Target group(s)  

• Educators
• Students

Methodologies used 

The project was driven by the need for sustainable digital materials grounded in a robust methodology rooted in democratic values and adaptable to diverse local contexts. Its approach was inspired by constructivist learning theory - the idea that learners actively create meaning and interpret information, constructing knowledge rather than passively absorbing it. This methodology also emphasised incorporating multiple perspectives and challenging dominant societal narratives. 

Innovation environment 

The project’s approach was to integrate digital tools, content knowledge, and social-emotional learning within a competence-based teaching and learning framework. Its aim was not merely to transmit knowledge, but to engage students through multimedia tools and modern pedagogy that connect with 21st-century human experiences- specifically survivor and witness testimonies.  

These testimonies are drawn from the Visual History Archive of the USC Shoah Foundation, which contains nearly 56,000 video accounts, in a range of languages, from survivors and witnesses of genocidal violence.  

By using these resources, teachers and students can learn about history directly from those who lived it. 

Teachers’ role 

A teacher training curriculum was developed to familiarise educators with the project’s approach, methodology, and the potential it offers for strengthening key competences, promoting inclusive learning, and fostering civic engagement.  

The partnership created five training formats: a 45-minute webinar, a 90-minute webinar, a half-day in-person training, a one-day in-person training, and an online course. 

Impact and output 

Digital testimony-based multimedia educational materials were developed, comprising 60 modules available in six languages. Most modules are centred around testimonies from Holocaust survivors and witnesses, grounding the content in a shared European historical experience while ensuring local relevance.  

These materials encourage critical reflection and creative thinking on universal human themes. In response to the war in Ukraine, two additional lessons were created in Hungarian for different age groups, focusing on building resilience.  

Through participation, students have strengthened their critical thinking, enhanced their social-emotional and interpersonal skills, and deepened their civic engagement. 

Learn more about the project