By bringing together Holocaust knowledge, the foundation of our Learning Framework, with key character strengths, we can ensure the lessons of the Holocaust that we teach at MHM influence meaningful and relevant shifts in individual thoughts and actions today.

In 2021 MHM undertook a comprehensive audience research project with visitors, teachers, donors and volunteers. The purpose? To investigate each group’s experience with MHM, our impact on their lives presently, and the potential to impact their lives in the future.

One of the key insights from the research across all audience groups was that the same question was being asked: How will MHM ensure the Holocaust remains relevant for visitors and students? Many museums create relevancy by linking their programs and exhibitions to contemporary issues, other genocides, or human rights issues.

Though this helps build a connection between the past and the present, we believe creating relevancy in these ways bears the risk of diluting the Holocaust.

We took this audience insight as a driving force to find the answer to
the questions:

• How can we create relevancy while not diluting the Holocaust?
• How can we ensure this is delivered meaningfully and not superficially?

We began researching this, drawing on a wide range of sources, including:

• MHM and Department of Education resources for teachers as part of
mandated Holocaust education in Victoria in 2021

• 2021 MHM audience research

• Academic research projects on the impact of Holocaust museums and their relevancy to the 21st century

While completing this comprehensive research, a key takeaway began to emerge:

Relevancy exists within the lessons of the Holocaust and our agency as individuals through the choices we make.

The project called on all MHM staff to get an inclusive perspective from Holocaust experts across our organisation as to what they felt were the core lessons of the Holocaust.

Building a framework based on character strengths

To build our holistic Learning Framework we explored the Learning Power Approach: a method responsible for a shift in education worldwide, underpinned by a move toward wellbeing and the development of character along with academic success. In many ways, our education programs were already aligned with this approach, but to truly ensure relevancy at MHM, we wanted to increase our capacity for change by imparting character strengths in everyone that walks through our doors.

The Learning Framework in development stages.

To practically implement our Learning Framework, we drew on the science of Positive Psychology. One of the core components of Positive Psychology is character strengths. Character strengths constitute a family of positive traits that are often considered to be “values in action.” They are measurable, based on science and possessed by people of all ages, all over the world.

We determined six character strengths grounded in the science of Positive Psychology, seen ubiquitously in our survivors’ testimonies and students’ post-program reflections. By combining these strengths with core Holocaust knowledge, we can stimulate several capabilities in all visitors and equip them with the tools and motivation to actively make a difference.

Mapping character strengths to the lessons of the Holocaust

When we began to map character strengths represented in Positive Psychology to the lessons of the Holocaust, we found an incredible connection. From there, the Learning Framework was born. Realising the weight of this project, and its wide-reaching implications, we engaged the University of Melbourne (UoM), Centre for Wellbeing Science, to ensure this project could reach its full potential.

We began working alongside wellbeing and education experts Rachel Colla, Bianca Venuti- Hughes and Erica Frydenberg from UoM, who were instrumental in scientifically grounding the refinement of the Learning Framework and, crucially, providing learning design tools and workshops to ensure the MHM team can implement the framework effectively across the organisation. The framework is a crucial component of MHM across not only education but in every interaction we have with the public.

It is one of the future-forward projects that will assist in long-term sustainability and relevancy for MHM.