Laura Pritchard Dobrin was inspired to create the first-ever teacher-authored activity in IWitness by one of her own favorite educators – and in the process, produced a lesson that teaches students about not just the Holocaust, but also a fascinating poet named Lotte Kramer.

Dobrin teaches English and history at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Va, and is a graduate of USC Shoah Foundation’s Teaching with Testimony in the 21st Century program. She said IWitness appealed to her because it allows students to become actively involved in the video testimonies by creating their own videos, and it engages 21st-century skills.

Dobrin said she was looking to develop an IWitness activity for her Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition class, and connected to Lotte Kramer’s testimony because Kramer reminded her of one of her favorite teachers, Penny Martin. Kramer has published several books of poetry about the Holocaust and other subjects, which Dobrin enjoyed reading.

“I really liked how she talked about her poetry and herself as a poet [in her testimony], and I loved how she included reading several of her poems in her testimony,” Dobrin said.

Dobrin’s activity is called Writing in Exile, and it includes several clips of Kramer’s testimony in which she talks about her poetry and reads three of her poems about the Holocaust. Students are asked to consider the themes present in each of the poems, such as friendship, family and emigration.

The activity was not the first time her students had watched poets reading their own poetry, but knowing Kramer’s personal story allowed them to make more of an emotional connection to her. They were so interested in her that many went above and beyond the assignment and watched extra testimonies, talked amongst themselves about the testimonies and shared what they had learned. They also enjoyed learning new digital skills while making their own videos.

“But above all I think it helped put a face on the millions who died.  They heard the individual stories, and I think that helped them develop empathy,” Dobrin said. “They continued to reference the project later in the year as well—I think it really “stuck” with them.”

Dobrin said IWitness develops students’ empathy, critical thinking skills and digital citizenship skills, and it give them the opportunity to interact with Holocaust survivors – which is becoming increasingly harder to do.

“Many schools couldn’t have a survivor visit them in person – and in a few years, no one will be able to have that – so the testimonies are there,” Dobrin said. “They are also catalogued, and with the support of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem encyclopedias, it is very teacher- and student-friendly.”