Teaching the Holocaust at a distance : reflections from the field

As technology continues to improve and online learning programs continue to proliferate each year throughout the United States, it is necessary for teachers to establish a sound understanding of proper pedagogical techniques for a digital environment. This phenomenon has ushered in a new era of education, thus bringing forth a myriad of new questions and issues that must be addressed. For instance, how should online instructors properly transfer and teach traditional core subjects in an online milieu? Social studies educators are faced with additional quandaries, such as teaching democratic processes for effective citizenship and the teaching of controversial issues/topics like the Holocaust.  Undeniably, controversial topics elicit strong emotions and come with a plethora of concerns that seem only possible to address in a face-to-face classroom.  This current exploration draws upon the scholarship and experience of experts in the field of social studies education, distance learning, and Holocaust Studies to provide suggestions as to how teachers should approach controversial topics in a digital learning environment. An example lesson plan is also provided to showcase a successful integration of controversial issues into an online high school social studies classroom. (By the author)