Contents and Topics of IPC
Not all the teachers in training have the opportunity to study abroad for a term. With IPC we want to compensate that in some way. The international project enables all students to make international and cross-cultural experiences concerning the subject of their studies. This should contribute to the internationalization in the Elementary Education curriculum of Universities.
Within IPC students from Germany cooperate with students from our different partner universities. The course language is English. This kind of cooperative work demands high social and communicative skills, as well as sensitivity in dealing with cultural differences. To get a good start, all the students log on one discussion board. This is the place to get in touch, to ask questions, to consider problems and to get an idea of the task together.
Literature to read on this is provided by www.21stcenturyskill.org. “Basic readings” that can be discussed in this first part can be chosen according to study plans (if there is a need to narrow down the area). We have already had a test run on different versions. Being able to choose a topic freely in the area of elementary pedagogic and didactics made the students work more creatively and motivated them. We got a lot of interesting research results of groups working like this.
Literature to read on this is provided by www.21stcenturyskill.org. “Basic readings” that can be discussed in this first part can be chosen according to study plans (if there is a need to narrow down the area). We have already had a test run on different versions. Being able to choose a topic freely in the area of elementary pedagogic and didactics made the students work more creatively and motivated them. We got a lot of interesting research results of groups working like this.
During the last terms students from Eichstaett (Germany), Sofia (Bulgaria), Granada (Spain) and Charlotte (USA) carried out studies comparing teacher training, methods, curricula and students’ interests. Some of the projects were theoretical, others empirical. They dealt with topics like:
Expeditionary Learning
Theories of Learning
Academic requirements
Student counselors and school-psychologists
Children and Nature
How children in primary school spend their free time
Emotional Influence of the teacher
Expeditionary Learning
Theories of Learning
Academic requirements
Student counselors and school-psychologists
Children and Nature
How children in primary school spend their free time
Emotional Influence of the teacher
The results of the group projects are presented in front of the class at each university. The presentations are posted on the websites. They are linked with this homepage. The projects are planned and carried out mostly via web. For the second time now we got the opportunity to arrange a meeting of our students in Charlotte. The results were presented at the UNC Charlotte in front of the German and American participants. These study trips to a partner university motivate and expand international experience with a personal aspect and real time experience.