UNESCO launches e-course on incorporating documentary heritage in teaching
On the World Teachers’ Day, the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme launched a free, online course for teachers and educators on how to integrate the MoW International Register in their teaching.
The Register consists of important historical items from all over the world, ranging from ancient manuscripts to music to audiovisual materials. Teachers can use it to foster intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and, importantly, to create engaging and creative experiences for their students.
The course consists of four chapters, complete with interactive features and audiovisual materials. Before delving into the uses of the MoW Register, the first chapter introduces the work of UNESCO and its MoW Programme. The second chapter provides concrete ideas about which Register items to introduce and how in the four different subject areas. It also provides practical case studies and resources for enhancing the learning experience of students.
The third chapter includes ready-made lesson plans that teachers can download and use directly in their classrooms. Finally, the fourth chapter provides tips on how to build close partnerships with local communities as well as archives, libraries, and museums among other institutions.
The course is in English and takes less than 45 minutes to complete. Teachers and educators can take it in their own time and easily resume where they left off. They can also propose their own lesson plans, which can later be added to the course and shared with other teachers from around the world.
The MoW Programme commissioned this course as part of its strategy to raise awareness about the MoW Register and, more generally, about the significance of documentary heritage. Teachers and educators are key to this effort, and the MoW Register can in turn be a great tool for enriching curricula.