Recent Field Trips
Physics and the Rh?n Mountains
'The short excursion as part of the physics didactics seminar took us to the Franconian Rh?n. We were accommodated in the Thüringer Hütte school hostel and education center run by the variado association. Among other things, the center includes the so-called Energy House, which we were also allowed to visit. On the premises, modern ways of converting, storing and saving energy are presented and discussed, questions are asked about a lifestyle that conserves the earth's resources and protects nature, and answers are sought together. The focus here is on exploring the environment, how it works, what we make of it and how we can use it without harming it. We were introduced to the "wonder world of light" and "networks" - both with a physical focus - in two interestingly prepared and self-active research blocks. We were able to gather lots of exciting ideas and suggestions for our later science lessons and experience for ourselves how well our own active, research-based activities can support learning.
The excursion culminated in a winter hike to the nearby Silbersee lake - a result of past basalt mining near Roth - where we were treated to a picturesque, frosty view of nature.
The mountain forest project
Cutting down trees for a healthy forest? From 17 April to 23 April, biology didactics students took part in the mountain forest project in Schmalkalden. Accompanied by foresters, they spent a week in a hut in the middle of the forest. In addition to plenty of good food, the students were able to experience the forest ecosystem and education for sustainable development in a completely new way. Everyone worked together to reforest the forest. This allowed the students to contribute to its natural regeneration and development, but also to help shape a forest that will serve as an example of sustainable and nature-friendly forestry in the future.
Nuremberg Zoo at night - Zoology excursion
Nuremberg Zoo at night! From 24 June to 25 June, the zoology excursion took place with the biology didactics teaching students. In addition to extensive knowledge about the animals living here, but also didactic backgrounds, the students were able to gain very special insights behind the scenes of the zoo under the expert guidance of zoo educator Christian Dienemann - and not only during the day, but also at night! They spent the night in the Blue Salon, the dolphinarium at Nuremberg Zoo: an excursion full of knowledge and impressions that will certainly remain in everyone's memory. Special thanks go to Yelva Larsen and Christian Dienemann for making this excursion possible.
Excursions
Learning to teach biology ... at extracurricular learning centres
A key problem in the education of children and young people is the increasing loss of reality and practical relevance. To counteract this, innovative didactic and methodological concepts are being developed, discussed and tested in practice. In this way, action-orientated forms of teaching/learning are being developed that guide learners to acquire specialist knowledge themselves. A modern pedagogical understanding is therefore no longer based exclusively on the teacher's activity, but actively involves learners in the process of knowledge transfer.
In this context, extracurricular places of learning are becoming increasingly important. Concepts such as ecology, systematics or evolution are initially abstract and do not directly reveal the underlying scientific relationships. These concepts can often be explained more vividly at extracurricular learning centres than in the classroom. Learners encounter the object directly, which allows them to engage with the object itself, its natural environment and the learner's life and everyday world.
In addition, with regard to exhibition and excursion didactics, central elements of teaching extracurricular learning locations are addressed. This also includes the organisation of typical school trips or day excursions. The question of which teaching/learning processes take place in informal learning locations and how they can be fruitfully organised will be explored.