This webinar presents What is Racism?, the new HistoriCall digital learning module developed by the House of European History for secondary school students and teachers. The module explores racism as a historical and systemic phenomenon rooted in colonialism, rather than only as individual prejudice. Through videos, interactive activities, historical timelines, object-based learning and classroom discussion prompts, students are invited to connect colonial histories with contemporary inequalities and to reflect on their own role in building more just societies.

During the session, participants will be introduced to the module’s structure, pedagogical approach and classroom activities, with practical suggestions on how to use it in different teaching contexts.

Key takeaways

• Discover the aims and structure of the What is Racism?
• Understand how the module presents racism, colonial history and contemporary inequalities through historical and sociological lenses.
• Explore concrete digital and classroom-based activities for secondary students and tools to facilitate potentially sensitive topics in the classroom.

Who this webinar is for

• Secondary school teachers
• Civic educators
• History and social science educators
• Teacher trainers
• Museum and heritage educators
• Youth workers and non-formal education practitioners

Speaker

Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfau is a researcher and educator working on race, anti-racism, colonial legacies, and educational inequality in Europe. She is Learning and Engagement Officer at the House of European History, working on the public and educational programme connected to the temporary exhibition Postcolonial?, the development of the HistoriCall module What is Racism?. Her work combines sociological research and anti-racist pedagogy, with a focus on how colonial histories and racial inequalities can be addressed in accessible and meaningful ways in educational settings.

She has published on race, racism, anti-racism, migration, and educational inequality in Italy and Europe, and has experience in qualitative research, teacher-oriented resources, and participatory educational formats.