Learning Firsthand: Vietnam War Digital Teaching Resource

: The Vietnam War Learning Firsthand Teaching and Learning Resource is an initiative of the Victorian Government. The resource complements the the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (Victorian Branch)’s school guest speaker program, through which schools can host a veteran guest presenter. It is designed to provide a toolbox from which teachers can select topics and activities to support learning before or after a visit from a veteran, or as an independent resource to engage with the Vietnam War in levels 9-10 History. The resource is therefore not designed as a sequenced unit but as a toolbox of stand alone topics that can be accessed in any order. Each topic is its own entry point, so does not assume prior learning about other topics. The notion of learning firsthand informs the overall approach and use of historical sources. The resource seeks to stimulate conversation and further inquiry about diverse perspectives on the Vietnam War and scaffold the development of historical thinking skills. The topics and activities speak directly to students. The historical knowledge section provides an anchor point and from there students can then select the activity or activities that best suit their needs and interests. Some are quite structured, and others offer opportunities for more open-ended inquiry. A range of other online sources are embedded throughout, such as those from the Australian War Memorial, Department of Veterans Affairs and other key cultural institutions. The curriculum toolbox on the following page indicates the curriculum connections. The diagram below further explains the purpose of each component for each topic.