Ranjous L, Edler R, Kebriteh H, Hackert D (2026)
Publication Type: Other publication type
Publication year: 2026
URI: https://syrianarchive.org/en/blog/education-critical-review/
This report highlights the pathways available when working in the digital archive of Mnemonic, enabling the critical use of open-source content to understand the attacks on schools during the Syrian conflict. Specifically, we have explored the extent to which the archive's content is relevant to revealing attacks on schools, as well as how the digital archive provides additional materials that can aid in established cases of attacks on schools. To do so, we have taken two separate approaches, exploring (1) to what extent digitally archived user-generated content and open-source digital materials can provide context of attacks and violations against the right to education, and (2) how Syrian Archive/ Elfehrest can be used to find additional/relevant information for already existing geolocation of school incidents. The emphasis of this study is on the research process rather than the specific number of identified school incidents, as understanding and refining the methodology is crucial for ensuring the rigor, reproducibility, and broader applicability of archived open-source content. In total, we have reviewed 1,135 pieces of open-source materials stored in Syrian Archive, including social media posts, videos, and photos, which we refer to as “observations.” For each explorative path taken, we present 10 case studies of schools which have allegedly been attacked. Our findings highlight the complexity of archived user-generated content, such as the differing challenges and opportunities of the various types of data, as well as the complexity with different spellings and dialects. Further, we give a reflection on the categories and tags established to support our research aims and emphasize the importance of ethical considerations that were elaborated during the research process.
APA:
Ranjous, L., Edler, R., Kebriteh, H., & Hackert, D. (2026). A Critical Review of Using Archived Open-Source Content to Understand Attacks on Schools.
MLA:
Ranjous, Lama, et al. A Critical Review of Using Archived Open-Source Content to Understand Attacks on Schools. 2026.
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