WW1 education program – creative outcomes
Students from Bialik College, The King David School, and Mount Scopus Memorial College have participated in the Museum’s new cutting-edge education program Soldier, Son, Service – an authentic research experience. This program has provided a unique opportunity for students to discover the lives and service of Australian Jewish soldiers during World War One, learning by interaction with primary sources and conducting real historical research.
Amanda Morris (History student from The King David School) had the following to say about the program:
I was very excited about the research and to learn about my chosen Soldier – Solomon Barnet Bentwitch. I was one of the few students who found a photo of their soldier. This education program brought History to life for me.
[From left to right] Amanda Morris (History student from The King David School), Margaret Pagone (History teacher from The King David School)
[From left to right] Margaret Pagone (History Teacher, The King David School) Rosalie Triolo (Board member, HTAV) Natalie and Sari Even-Bar (Assistant Education Coordinator, Jewish Museum of Australia) Deborah Rechter (Curator of True Jews and Patriots, Jewish Museum of Australia), Sally Stevens (Head of History, Bialik College), Jeremy Stowe-Lindner (Principal, Bialik College) and Rebecca Forgasz, (Director & CEO Jewish Museum of Australia)
The students’ work has contributed to the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women’s (VAJEX Australia) ongoing research, and to the Jewish Museum’s TrueJews and Patriots exhibition. The research and creative outcomes of their findings are on display in the exhibition space. Community members are invited to visit the Jewish Museum of Australia before Thursday 31 January to view the creative outcomes of the students’ work.
The Museum has worked in collaboration with history teachers from Melbourne’s leading Jewish schools and Monash university lecturer Rosalie Triolo, to develop rich content for this unique education program. The program directly addresses the Australian Curriculum, on the subject of WW1, taught in year 9 across secondary schools in Victoria. Themes include Australia as a nation, immigration, democracy and citizenship.
Rosalie Triolo head of HTAV (History Teachers Association of Victoria) had the following to say about the program:
The Jewish Museum modelled an excellent approach to teacher professional learning as well as student learning. Teachers were involved in discussions of educational outcomes of the ‘True Jews’ exhibition while the exhibition was under development. The many ‘memory boxes’ that their students then created – full of real and replica artefacts depicting the ‘True Jews’ wartime experiences – were a consequence of the multiple collaborations, the students’ inspired research and sensitive presentation of others’ stories. Excellent work by all.
Bialik Students were selected to present about the use of QR codes as a technology tool to learn about History, at the HTAV Kids Conference this November.
Soldier, Son, Service is an ongoing education program that is on offer to both Jewish and non-Jewish schools, as it ties into the Jewish Museum’s Calling Australia Home permanent exhibition.