International workshop on using oral histories in education

The aim of the Learning for Peace project to find ways to reach out to pedagogues for introducing to and motivating for using oral histories in education unfolded as a dynamic workshop, echoing with the voices of participants from Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria. In this immersive exploration, educators and students, representing a spectrum from elementary schools to universities, as well as media professionals, gathered to unravel the potential of existing oral history databases in diverse educational settings.

Through carefully crafted practical exercises, participants embarked on a hands-on journey, navigating the intricate landscape of oral histories. The workshop aimed not only to provide a nuanced understanding but also to illuminate the multifaceted benefits of seamlessly incorporating these rich resources into curricula.

Originating from different backgrounds, the participants coalesced into three distinct groups, each entrusted with a unique story that echoed the nuances of history. The first group delved into the poignant narrative of a Holocaust survivor, conducting their exploration in English. Simultaneously, a second group immersed themselves in the story of a former war prisoner after World War II, presented in Hungarian. The third group navigated the complexities of a narrative from 1980s Czechoslovakia – a tale of a man who fled the communist regime, with their work conducted in Slovak, presented as an article.

This diverse assembly of educators and learners faced a common task – to analyze the intricacies of their assigned stories and craft comprehensive plans. Their objective: to outline how these stories could be woven into educational frameworks, specifying the formats and objectives. The collective efforts of all three groups culminated in enlightening presentations delivered in English, underscoring the universality of the endeavor.

This chapter unfolds the narratives of exploration, analysis, and planning, showcasing the potential of oral history as a dynamic educational tool. The voices of the past, curated in oral histories, echo through the diverse linguistic and historical lenses of Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, bringing forth a collective understanding of the profound impact these stories can have in shaping the educational landscape.