History and Civic Education via Virtual Platforms

Within the framework of this project we will disseminate a number of internet-based tools and innovative teaching aids in the form of virtual platforms and mobile applications. Through this use of new media, we want to reduce barriers in access to knowledge and culture, and contribute to the popularization of the open education model.

Jewish Warsaw is an online multimedia guide to the Polish capital as seen through the history of its Jewish residents. Warsaw may be toured according to various scenarios: following in the footsteps of strip cartoons’ protagonists, wandering through the city in the company of Janusz Korczak or turning a walk in contemporary Warsaw - presented in the form of a blog - into a true time travel.

The platform consists of three parts which are available to all users. The mobile application called “In the footsteps of Janusz Korczak” is particularly recommended for junior high school students who are able to follow the footsteps of the Jewish educator and doctor along two distinct routes through the city.

An extended version of this walk can be found on the desktop platform. For high school students, we sincerely recommend the “Stories and Sketches” multimedia comic book which presents the history of nine characters in an authorial interpretation by Monika Powalisz and Jacek Michalski.

There are also interesting proposals for teachers – scenarios that can be followed during classes. The “Past and Present” part is designed for adults who are willing to learn about the history of Jewish Warsaw - from the very moment when Jews have first settled here, wandering the trail from the Vistula river through the Tłomackie Square, the Nalewki and Grzybów boroughs, the Senatorska street and the Theatre Square all the way to the Praga district.

In this part, adult users will also learn about the history of the Warsaw Jews during World War II. The post-war story of Warsaw is told from the perspective of twelve different guides. Here the history takes on a personal dimension; our guides include Józef Hen, Eleonora Bergman, Seweryn Blumsztajn and Bożena Werbart as well as representatives of the young generation such as Daniel Slomka or Joanna Baczko.

Supported from the Norway and EEA Grants by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

www.eeagrants.org, www.norwaygrants.org
More about „Jewish Cultural Heritage”