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Using case studies: "What we did at My Lai" Print E-mail
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This workshop is approximately two hours long and divided into two sessions: 90 minutes for the first and 30 for the second.  Plan to take a break after "Understand the EHL materials," before moving on to Session 2, "Experience the classroom." 

Step 1: Workshop objectives

The teaching methods you will learn in this workshop are "Discussion" and "Using stories, photos, and videos," with a focus on a case study. You will explore these methods with the help of Exploration 3C: Who is responsible for respecting IHL? and Exploration 3D: A case study - My Lai: What went wrong? What went right?

In Exploration 3C, students explore the responsibilities of various people in making sure that IHL is respected. Exploration 3D uses the incident in My Lai to raise important questions such as: What are some of the factors that could lead to serious violations of IHL? What types of dilemmas might soldiers face in making the ‘right' choice on the battlefield? When violations of IHL occur, what are the different responsibilities of commanding officers and ordinary citizens and soldiers?

This workshop is designed to raise the same questions for teachers. The case study on My Lai makes it possible to go into these questions more deeply. The aim is to familiarize yourself with a variety of pedagogical approaches for exploring the question of responsibility for upholding IHL. Because it focuses with such intensity on the actions of people caught in the same difficult situation, the case study may evoke strong emotions in your students.

Take a look at the following workshop objectives:

  • to understand who is responsible for making sure that the rules of IHL are respected.
  • to become aware of the emotions that such materials may evoke
  • to learn how to involve students in the details of a case study
  • to understand some of the issues and dilemmas involved in implementing and enforcing IHL

Overview: What goes on in this workshop?

In this online workshop, you will do selected steps from Exploration 3C: Who is responsible for respecting IHL? and Exploration 3D: A case study - My Lai: What went wrong? What went right? as if you were a student. You will also view slide presentations on the teaching methods used in this exploration: "Discussion" and "Using stories, photos, and videos."

You will need to keep an EHL journal to record your reflections. You may use your own paper journal, or download our journal template and type in your journal entry.

Session 1

Step 2: Understand the EHL materials (90 minutes)

Read and clarify

Use the EHL journal template for note-taking as you view the slide presentations.

  1. View the slides on Using stories, photos, and videos.
    Flash Player is required to view slides; for the text version, see Teaching methods, Using stories, photos, and videos.
  2. View the slides on Discussion .
    Flash Player is required to view slides; for the text version, see Teaching methods, Discussion.

Do the exploration

You might be wondering: "Why do I actually have to engage in the activities that my students will do in class? Why can't I just read through them?" Many teachers feel that way initially. By doing the exploration as if you were a student, you will absorb the material and the issues related to it as your students will. In addition, sharing your reflections in Community activities will give you an opportunity to interact with teachers who have similar questions.

Do step 2 of Exploration 3C (20 minutes). If you are doing this workshop in a group, selected teachers should conduct the exploration, using Step 2. Do the activity in which students tackle the question of responsibility for ensuring that IHL is respected. Then move to Exploration 3D.

Do steps 2, 3, and 4 of Exploration 3D (70 minutes). The entire exploration is built around a video, What we did at My Lai.

As a teaching technique, video-viewing may be divided into three parts: Preparation (use Step 2), Viewing (use Step 3) and Reflection (use Steps 3 and 4).

If you are doing this workshop on your own, invite a few friends or family members to participate, so that you can better explore the intricate issue of responsibility for upholding IHL and the complexities of My Lai.

EHL Journal reflection

After doing the exploration, and writing or discussing your responses to the questions at the end of Step 3, write down your thoughts on the following question:

  • What are your reactions to the video?

Take a break and continue with Session 2 later.


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