TY - CHAP
T1 - Emotional Dimensions of Complex Learning Environments
T2 - Adopting a Trauma and Resilience-Informed Approach Within a Global Justice Investigations Lab
AU - McGonigle, Brianne
AU - Christiaanse, Koko
PY - 2026/4/23
Y1 - 2026/4/23
N2 - An increasing number of universities around the world are setting up digital open-source investigation courses or labs, which teach students across disciplines about the investigation of global justice issues, including serious human rights violations and environmental harms. Specifically, students learn how to identify, collect, document, verify, critically analyze, evaluate, and safely store digital open-source materials such as news reports, social media posts, satellite images, and more. Often, the students learn these skills while working collaboratively with societal partners on real-world projects. Given that students may be exposed to potentially traumatic materials during such investigations, it is important that students and educators alike receive information and training on the emotional aspects of this work. Using literature, survey results, and student reflection logs, this chapter examines one such digital open-source investigations lab established at Utrecht University in 2023–2024. It examines the steps taken by teachers before, during and after the running of the lab and how five core values, namely safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment, were used to underpin a trauma and resilience-informed approach. It further explores the necessity and value for students of adopting a trauma and resilience-informed approach in complex learning environments like open-source investigation labs and what lessons can be relevant for other complex learning environments tackling sensitive subject matter. In particular, the chapter stresses the importance of (i) starting early to think about what a trauma and resilience-approach could mean in a particular classroom environment; (ii) adopting an approach that aligns with scholarship and that best fits the specific contexts of the relevant learning environment; and (iii) regularly reviewing and adapting the approach based on student and teacher experiences.
AB - An increasing number of universities around the world are setting up digital open-source investigation courses or labs, which teach students across disciplines about the investigation of global justice issues, including serious human rights violations and environmental harms. Specifically, students learn how to identify, collect, document, verify, critically analyze, evaluate, and safely store digital open-source materials such as news reports, social media posts, satellite images, and more. Often, the students learn these skills while working collaboratively with societal partners on real-world projects. Given that students may be exposed to potentially traumatic materials during such investigations, it is important that students and educators alike receive information and training on the emotional aspects of this work. Using literature, survey results, and student reflection logs, this chapter examines one such digital open-source investigations lab established at Utrecht University in 2023–2024. It examines the steps taken by teachers before, during and after the running of the lab and how five core values, namely safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment, were used to underpin a trauma and resilience-informed approach. It further explores the necessity and value for students of adopting a trauma and resilience-informed approach in complex learning environments like open-source investigation labs and what lessons can be relevant for other complex learning environments tackling sensitive subject matter. In particular, the chapter stresses the importance of (i) starting early to think about what a trauma and resilience-approach could mean in a particular classroom environment; (ii) adopting an approach that aligns with scholarship and that best fits the specific contexts of the relevant learning environment; and (iii) regularly reviewing and adapting the approach based on student and teacher experiences.
U2 - 10.1163/9789004754720_008
DO - 10.1163/9789004754720_008
M3 - Chapter
SN - 978-90-04-75064-7
T3 - Studies in International Criminal Law
SP - 132
EP - 156
BT - The emotions and ethics of focusing on mass atrocities
A2 - Weerdestijn, Maartje
A2 - Smeulers, Alette
PB - Brill | Nijhoff
ER -