3 October 2012 - 18 December 2012

The e-learning course will introduce the international field of human rights education (HRE), including presentations of programming approaches, teaching and learning resources, and related theory. The course is intended for educators and trainers working in both the formal and non-formal sectors. Participants will be assisted in the development of a curriculum, training, or plan to use these skills to further their organisation's advocacy efforts. Participants might be expected to apply these skills within formal education settings, for staff development within their own organisations, and for outreach and advocacy.

The course has the following sequence. First, it will introduce the human rights framework and programming approaches and teaching materials in use worldwide. This will be followed by a presentation of interactive teaching methods and related pedagogical theory. Participants will then explore discipline-based approaches to HRE, examining programming and sample materials that come from the social sciences, the humanities and the sciences. This will be complemented by an examination of "issue" oriented education and advocacy approaches to HRE, drawing examples from children's rights, women's rights and the rights of minorities. Several sessions will be devoted to building the skills of participants, by reviewing how to develop a learning experience and integration of assessments.

The course involves approximately 60 hours of reading, on-line working groups, interaction among students and instructor, webinars and assignments, and is offered over a 11-week period beginning on 3 October 2012. This course will integrate active and participatory learning approaches within activities and assignments, with an emphasis on reflective and collaborative learning. Participants will do the required reading, prepare interim and final project assignments and participate in group discussions.

The maximum number of course participants is 25. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation. It is also possible to audit the course.

Course outline

Week 1. Introduction to Human Rights Education
Week 2. International Human Rights Standards and Mechanisms
Week 3.  Transformational Learning and Human Rights Education Methodologies
Week 4. Planning a Human Rights Education Programme
Week 5. "Open week”
Week 6. Developing and Organising Learning Activities
Week 7. Resources for Learning Human Rights in Schools and in Higher Education
Week 8. Resources for Human Rights Learning with Adult Learners
Week 9.  Organising Workshops and Trainings
Week 10. Evaluation and Assessment
Week 11. Laws and Policies Supporting Human Rights Education

Level: professional , post-graduate graduate

Location: Internet (e-learning course)

Participants: educators and trainers working in secondary schools and adult learning environments. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computers and Internet use. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants.

Tuition, fee, lodging: The tuition fee is US$ 725; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 450. Tuition for auditors is US$ 275; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 175. Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available for this course. For further information and application forms, visit: www.hrea.org/introduction-human-rights-education.

Contact Information:
Sandra Quintin
Distance Learning Programme
HREA
689 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-3302
USA
Tel: +1 617 301-4379
Fax: +1 617 249-0278
E-mail: applications@hrea.org
Web: http://www.hrea.org