After our visit to the Alfred-Wegener- Schule on January 19th, we got answers to most of the questions in our Field Trip Questions – post.
1. How many computers do you have?
- There are three different rooms with computers. Two of them are convetional computer labs, one is a learning room with a library and group tables with computers for older students and the other one is the “Lernwerkstatt”. It has a special architecture: It is one big room, where you find a library and some small group-talking-rooms like cabins, upstairs are some computers and a printer. Roughly there are about 80 computers at school.
2. How do you finance the computers?
- The computers are financed by a “Bildungspaket” from the German government. 7 years ago the school got microsoft packages.
3. How often and in which subjects do teachers use the computers? Do they really integrate new media into their lesson plans?
- Teaching media tools is integrated into the subjects. In 5th grade the students have a crash course “introduction to new media” each week for 6-7 weeks. Depending on the topic teachers often use the computers. But unfotunately, there is not much time to concentrate on working with the PCs because of the G8.
4. Do you have any didactic courses for teachers which help them using new media?
- Luckily, there is no need for courses for teachers, most of them know how to handle with computers and to use them in their lessons. There are just some older teachers, who think they will not need to learn it in their last years as teachers. 7 years ago there was a training for the teachers, but today there is no need. For special questions there are informatics teachers.
5. Are there any volunteer teachers who offer computer clubs, or organize projects like email or Skype friendships?
- There were some projects in the subject English, but as said before, the students as well as the teachers have so much to do obligatory, so they cannot find room for these special projects.
6. Do the pupils have the opportunity to use the computer lab besides lessons or without supervision?
- No, they are not. Older students have an own account, the younger ones save their documents on USB sticks. They do not use the computers without supervision because the teachers have some bad experiences with letting the students alone in front of the computers.
7. Do you have further ideas or new plans to expand new media at your school?
- Media always develops and of course the school has to update the systems and the possibilities to use media. For example they change the equipment, they have a smart board. But they plan also new designs of computer labs like the “Lernwerkstatt” which seems to be more open; open to new social teaching and open to new media.
We wish the Alfred-Wegener- School success in their future plans with new media in school and thank them for the nice visit. It was a different experience for us because in our school years technology was not much integrated into the lessons and the future plans. It is a good example for us becoming teachers and other schools on there way to a modern education.
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