Pioneering video series: Focus on MINT subjects for teachers!

Pioneering video series: Focus on MINT subjects for teachers!

The Dahlem School of Education at the Free University of Berlin today launched its new video series “Your Subject, Your Future”, which specifically supports prospective teachers in choosing their subjects. The main focus is on the MINT subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and computer science. This series is not only a source of information, but also offers insights into the fascination for these subjects, highlights their importance and provides practical information.

In the video series, teacher training students, teachers and lecturers have their say. Important topics are covered, such as relevant course content and the students' areas of employment in the respective subject. Linking practical school situations with scientific knowledge is central to training. The first five videos have already been published on the Free University of Berlin's YouTube channel, and another video on the subject "Specific Teaching" is in preparation. The target group is high school students and other prospective students in order to support them in their decision-making. Prof. Dr. Bettina Hannover emphasizes how crucial the choice of subject is for students' motivation and academic performance, which underlines the relevance of the video series.

Practical experience and training

The teacher training courses at Freie Universität include a practical semester in the four-semester master's courses, which was held for the first time in the winter semester 2016/2017. The aim of this practical approach is to give students a deeper insight into everyday school life. The support takes place in close cooperation with schools, practical school seminars and universities and promotes the students' skills in planning, implementing and reflecting on lessons.

By staying at school for a longer period of time, students should not only analyze teaching aspects in class. Dealing with teachers' extracurricular tasks also plays a role, which represents a valuable addition to the second phase of teacher training, the preparatory service. The professional development of students is supported within the framework of learning research projects, which increases the quality of the teacher training course.

Beyond the course content

The teacher training course itself offers a broad spectrum that goes beyond the subject-specific content. The subject didactics provide methods for effectively processing complex content for school lessons. These methods are based on current didactic research results. Educational sciences, including the pedagogical and psychological foundations of learning, are also integrated into the study design. This knowledge is crucial to better understand students and to support them individually.

Finally, it should be noted that, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, teaching positions are often only awarded to trained teachers who have a teaching-related university degree and have passed a state examination. Although it is occasionally possible to select people without teacher training, this usually only happens if they have a non-teaching-related university degree in the relevant subject and are considered suitable. These framework conditions make it clear how important qualified training is in order to successfully master the diverse challenges of the teaching profession.