Participants of the teacher training at the "Studienseminar Celle".
Celle, 7.6.2010. In Germany, teachers pass an university study in the first phase of their training. The second phase begins with a study at an institution called “Studienseminar”. At this institution, teacher trainers join teacher students in their classes, and give practice lessons how to teach topics. ITEMS was invited to give a teacher training session in the ITEMS – “Introduction to Graphs” unit. The training session, led by Karl Sarnow, Gymnasium Isernhagen, started with a theory on Moodle, the base CMS of ITEMS. Then introduced into the goals of the ITEMS module. In the third phase, teachers practiced using the unit. Finally, those teachers who showed serious interest, received their own ITEMS course “Introduction to Graphs” in order to continue real life working witth the unit. Michael Zilk, head of the Studienseminar, invited participants to make use of the ITEMS module in their final examination work.
Karl Sarnow presenting the ITEMS module "Introduction to graphs".
The European Schools Project (ESP) is a grass root teachers project. Since 24 years, teachers from all over Europe present existing projects and look for partners in new projects. At this years meeting in London from March 3rd to 7th, 2010, ITEMS presented its work in several presentations. First, Karl Sarnow gave an introduction to the concept of the ITEMS module “Introduction to graphs” (Photo left). Then theachers were introduced to the concept of the attending teacher training course. Teachers where invited to subscribe and as some already did at presentation time, others noted the link to promote the teacher training course in their country.
Jürgen Ganzer presents the tools for translation and adaption of ITEMS modules.
Another presentation was given by Jürgen Ganzer (Photo right), senior vice director of Gymnasium Hermannsburg. He translated the ITEMS course geometry and reported about the possibilities to adapt the ITEMS course given in English language to the native language of the pupils, while also adapting the content to the local curricular needs.
In other presentations, teachers reported the use of Moodle for WebQuests. During these presentations, a large interest in the Moodle tools popped up. The ITEMS presenters invited teachers to join the ITEMS teacher training in order to learn more about the power of Moodle for teaching.
The teacher training at NiLS started on 24.11.2009
On 24.11.2009 the teacher training for the ITEMS course “Einführung in Funktionen (Klasse 6)” (Introduction into functions) started. The teachers where introduced into the goals and concepts of the ITEMS project. Then the teachers enrolled in the ITEMS teacher training course. This course is used in the next time to give teachers help when they start to teach the real course.
Every teacher got a copy of the course and was enrolled as a teacher in his course, which he will give in the near future.
At the end of course, a short questionnaire gave feedback about the impression the course made.
All teachers where very much convinced about the usefulness of the training session and the use of Moodle in general and the presented ITEMS course.
All teachers wanted more ITEMS courses like this.
Most teachers expected a positive reaction of the children. On the other hand, the teachers think that the needed IT competences of the children are at high level for the age group. The same holds for the teachers. No wonder that most teachers urgently wanted more training to use Moodle.
After having practised the courses, the teachers will come back and fill in the next questionnaire reporting about their results.
Christian Wulff, prime minister of Lower saxony opened the “Tag der Medienkompetenz” (Day of media competence) in Hannover on 5.11.2009. At this day, teachers and representatives of educational institutions, had the opportunity to get information about latest developments in the field of media and education.
ITEMS was represented by Karl Sarnow, who gave a presentation about the project at the booth of the lower saxony teacher training insitution NILS.
The presentation was well accepted and several teachers subscribed immediately to the teacher training for the ITEMS course “Einführung in Funktionen” (grade 6).
