Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Conflicts of Interest Certificate Program

Overview: A specialized training program designed to help Jewish educators develop skills, confidence, and pedagogical approaches to teach about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other complex, controversial issues in nuanced, constructive ways.

Status: Active; pilot phase completed with 4 cohorts; now rolling out as ongoing program

Launch Date: May 2023 (framework); June 2024 (full program rollout)

Duration: Approximately four weeks

Format: Hybrid model combining virtual and in-person instruction

Geographic Scope: Primarily North America; open to educators working with Jewish communities

Focus Areas:

  • Israeli-Palestinian conflict education

  • Multiple narratives and perspectives

  • Conflict education and peace education pedagogies

  • Political and civic education approaches

  • Facilitating conversations about controversial issues

  • Holding nuanced, multi-perspective views

  • Conflict as opportunity for growth

  • Content knowledge related to historical and contemporary conflict issues

  • Primary source analysis

  • Receptiveness to differing perspectives

  • Identity formation in context of controversial issues
  • Core Pedagogical Approach:

  • Places learners' relationship with Israel at center of learning

  • Honors identity formation concerns

  • Balances critical thinking with cultural and institutional contexts

  • Develops educator confidence and competence

  • Emphasizes "the art of turning conflict into growth"
  • Eligibility:

  • Jewish educators at all levels (day school teachers, Hebrew school teachers, youth group directors, campus educators, etc.)

  • Professionals seeking to improve their capacity to teach about conflict

  • Educators wanting to engage learners in nuanced discussion of Israeli-Palestinian conflict
  • Program Evidence:

  • Independent evaluation of 4 pilot cohorts shows significant effectiveness

  • 85% of participants found centering learners' relationship with Israel very/extremely valuable

  • Participants showed impressive growth in:

  • - Receptiveness to differing perspectives (moderate to high)
    - Ability to hold multiple perspectives (moderate to high)
    - Comfort with complex conflict narratives
    - Practical teaching skills

    Key Resources Consulted in Development:

  • 20 lesson plans

  • 23 textbooks and resource guides

  • 18 white papers

  • 66 books and articles

  • 19 curriculum frameworks

  • Input from ~200 educators across various settings
  • Contact Information:

  • Organization: The iCenter for Israel Education

  • Address: P.O. Box 843, Northbrook, IL 60062

  • Phone: 847.418.8336

  • Email: hello@theicenter.org

  • Website: theicenter.org
  • How to Apply

    Application Process

    Program Structure:
    1. Four-week training program
    2. Combination of virtual and in-person sessions
    3. Cohort-based learning model

    Core Components:
    1. Content Learning:
    - Core content related to conflicts and Israel
    - Historical and contemporary points of contention
    - Examination of primary sources
    - Multiple narratives (including Arab and other perspectives)

    2. Skills Development:
    - Protocols for facilitating conversations about controversial issues
    - Receptiveness to differing perspectives
    - Holding multiple perspectives simultaneously
    - Practical teaching strategies
    - Courage and resilience building

    3. Pedagogical Training:
    - "Pulling back the curtain" strategy (explaining pedagogies and methodologies)
    - Translation of learning into practical classroom applications
    - Balance between being a learner and a practitioner

    4. Values-Based Framework:
    - Set of core values
    - Core pedagogic approaches
    - Content areas
    - Historical and contemporary point analysis

    Participant Experience:

  • Engagement with multiple conflict narratives

  • Practice distinguishing between understanding, sympathizing, and agreeing

  • Development of comfort with complexity and ambiguity

  • Peer learning from diverse educators

  • Practical tools for classroom/program application
  • Application Details: Specific application deadlines, submission materials, and process not detailed in provided content. Contact The iCenter directly for application information.

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    teacher-developmentjewish

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