Mauney returns from Germany: A trip to explore education. | The Daily Courier

The local newspaper, The Daily Courier, ran a follow up article today about my adventure.

Truly honored!  

Please read the article below.

http://www.thedigitalcourier.com/news/forestcity/x143260258/Mauney-returns-from-Germany

Castle Hohenzollern

Castle Hohenzollern, one of the most beautiful castles in Germany and home to the family of the Hohenzollern, the last noble lineage to rule Germany during the Kaiserreich in the 19th and early 20th century.  Hohenzollern Castle is a castle approximately 31 miles south of Stuttgart,Germany. It is considered the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern family, which emerged in the Middle Ages and eventually became German Emperors.  The castle is located on top of Berg (Mount) Hohenzollern, at an elevation of 2,805 feet above sea level. The castle was first constructed in the early 11th century.

Eschbach Gymnasium and Realschule

The Eschbach Gymnasium is renowned for its use of technology in the classroom and for its teaching of STEM topics. While at this school, I was given the privilege to teach a lesson to a classroom of German students. Nervous and excited can sum up the emotions I experienced.

Luckily I was grouped with two other teachers for our lesson, Rebecca Merriman and Michelle McManus. They are two amazing teachers!! We began planning before the trip and developed a QR Code activity for the students to learn more about North Carolina.

 Once we had out plan of action ready, we received word that there was no guarantee that their would be internet access and possibly no interactive whiteboard or even a projector (we'll discuss that later), so we devised a plan B. I thought, if there is a projector, I could at least use my iPhone and let them scan, so we had a plan B. Then we thought we needed to be on the safe side and have a Plan C. We bought a book, T is for Tar Heel: A North Carolina Alphabet by Carol Crane to read aloud to the class.

On the day of our visit, we arrived as the first classes were ending.  The school was amazing.  They had a school garden and goats.  Real live goats!!!  We meet with the principal of the school and a few of the teachers then we were lead to the classes where we would present.  

The classroom that we visited was a 5th grade English language class.  The teacher was very kind and introduced us and then let us take over.  The students were typical 5th graders.  They looked very eager that strangers were in the classroom.  Mrs. Merriman, Mrs. McManus, and myself decided to go with Plan D, of course.  There was no technology in the classroom.  NONE.  Only a chalkboard.  Thank goodness for Plan D.  

Plan D = toilet paper.

Mrs. Merriman came up with a fun activity to really get the students involved.  We took a roll of toilet paper (thanks Hotel Maritim) and instructed the students to take as much as they wanted.  With the paper that they took they must then either tell something about themselves or Germany, or ask us a question.  This was so much fun.  It was interesting to see them formulate their questions or thoughts then have to translate it into English.  The teacher really liked the activity.  He said it was better than any test he could have given them.  

Our activity was a success.  We learned so much from each other.  I think the students  and the teacher were amazed at the amount and ease of access to technology that students have in North Carolina.  The students enjoyed looking at and trying out our iPads and iPhones.  Several of them said they had devices at home, but they did not have them at school.  The teacher was very taken aback that the students in his school did not have the same access to technology.  It was very interesting.  

The images below are the notes the students left on my iPad after I sent it around the room.  :)

The school visit and activity was another wonderful experience.  It really gave me some insight in to what kind of respect educators receive in Germany.  The teachers did not have a personal classroom, they traveled from classroom to classroom, but they did have a large teacher's lounge that had all of the teacher's desks in one room. I was amazed by it, just think of the collaboration that could happen in a space like that.  

The teachers also did not have to supervise the students as they moved from room to room, in the halls, common areas, or outside.  When the class was over the teacher takes their things and leaves, students dismiss themselves and are responsible for their own behavior and getting from place to place.

The visit and activity were a great opportunity.  I am sure that I will be able to create a collaborative partnership with the school and schools in my area in the near future.

The video below shows some excerpts from our activity, please enjoy.

Guess the Sign - 3

Can you guess what this sign means?

Mercedes-Benz Museum

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is an automobile museum in Stuttgart, Germany. It covers the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand and the brands associated with it. Stuttgart is home to the Mercedes-Benz brand and the international headquarters of Daimler AG. This museum takes you on a journey since the invention of the first car to current technologies. The architecture of the museum in the double helix shape is already is simply stunning.

Please enjoy this video of images I captured during my visit.

Uhlandschule School Visit (One of My Favorite Experiences!!!)

Uhlandschule is a primary and Realschule which is being renovated in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, Bosch and other companies into one of only three “plus-energy” schools (schools that produce more energy than they expend).

 When we arrived at the school it was break time, so all of the students from grades 1-10 were all out in the courtyard playing soccer, jumping rope, running around, eating snacks (fresh bread, pretzels, pastries, and fruits), and being typical kids, only they were note being supervised by a gang of teachers.  The teachers were in their classrooms and other areas having coffee and chatting.  Students were expected to be responsible for themselves while they played.  The older kids looked out for the smaller ones, but there was little to no adult supervision.  No one keeping them from kicking the soccer ball up against the side of the shed, or keeping them running around into one another.  Not something you would see in a typical American school yard.

A group of older students had prepared their school garden area for us with fresh pretzels, apple juice, coffee, and sparkling water.  They had even made center pieces for the picnic tables.  We meet with the school's principal and she told us a little bit about the school, then we met a few teachers and followed them to their classroom to observe a lesson.

During my visit there I observed in a 1st Grade classroom.  The students were SO CUTE!!!  It made me miss all the sweet kiddos at my schools.  I was pleased to see that their classroom was very similar to one you would see in Rutherford County.  The only differences being that there were no Promethean Boards or interactive whiteboards, no computers, or other technology devices.  They only used chalkboards, paper, pencils, and other manipulatives. Oh, and they spoke in German and English.  

The classroom consisted of one teacher, two assistants and twenty bright eyed and eager to learn students.  I actually think one of the assistants was more of a one-on-one for a young boy with autism.  

The students were very inquisitive about the guests, "American Teachers", in the room and had a few questions to ask, but for the most part they ignored us once the teacher began her lesson.  Students were actively engaged in the lesson and were expected to work independently after the main lesson.  

Once the students began on their independent work, I walked around the classroom and saw that students were working at different paces and several had completely different assignments.  The teacher was using differentiated instruction based on what her students needed.  Each student was working on the same concept, but it was suited to meet their needs.  The teacher said that she prepared each students work the day before and students knew to work on what was in their folder.  I also noticed students were able to collaborate or discuss things that they needed help with with each other.

After the lesson and after the students had been dismissed for the day (at 12:15p!!!!), the students walked out to meet their parents or walked home on their own.  A few of the students had their parents wait around to meet us.  A mother and a father had walked to the school to pick up their three children at school and were very warm and inviting.  The mother asked us some questions and we told her about our visit in Germany and that we were all teachers.  She even invited us to come to the community movie and out for dinner afterwards, which I think would have been amazing, but we were on a tight schedule.

All in all the school visit to Uhlandschule was one of my favorite experiences while I was abroad in Germany.  It reminded me why I began teaching in the first place.  Seeing the awe in the students as they grasped and learned new concepts.  I can't wait to begin a pen pal program with the classroom at one of my schools.  

Below are some videos from the lesson:

German Educational System Overview

Our group had an introduction to and discussion of the German school system and education model by leading officials at the Haus der Wirtshaft the head office of Baden-Württemberg International.

• Dr. Hans-Georg Wolf, Head of the International Unit of the Ministry of Research, Science and the Arts, Baden-Württemberg 
• Professor Lothar Bösing, Director of the State Seminar for Teacher Training and Education, Tübingen
• Mr. Siegmut Keller, International Unit, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
• Dr. Peter Dines, Director of the International Office, Ludwigsburg University of Education

The German Education System is complex, but very efficient.  

The image below is a diagram of how students are arranged into academic areas.

Below is a "brief" overview of the German Educational System.

Information borrowed from http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/germanschools.html

German public education makes it possible for qualified kids to study up to university level, regardless of their families' financial status.  The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in other countries, but it produces high-performing students.  The whole German education system, including the universities, is available to German citizens.  Education is a function of the federal states, but there are differences from state to state.

Children aged three to six, may attend kindergarten. After that, school is compulsory for nine or ten years. From grades 1 through 4 children attend elementary school (Grundschule), where the subjects taught are the same for all. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to their academic ability and the wishes of their families, and attend one of three different kinds of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium. Grundschule teachers recommend their students to a particular school based on such things as academic achievement, self-confidence and ability to work independently. However, in most states, parents have the final say as to which school their child attends following the fourth grade.

Hauptschule
The Hauptschule (grades 5-9) teaches the same subjects as the Realschule and Gymnasium, but at a slower pace and with some vocational-oriented courses. It leads to part-time enrollment in a vocational school combined with apprenticeship training until the age of 18.

Realschule
The Realschule (grades 5-10 in most states) leads to part-time vocational schools and higher vocational schools. It is now possible for students with high academic achievement at theRealschule to switch to a Gymnasium on graduation.

Gymnasium
The Gymnasium leads to a diploma called the Abitur and prepares students for university study or for a dual academic and vocational credential. The most common education tracks offered by the standard Gymnasium are classical language, modern language, and mathematics and natural science. In recent years many States have changed the curriculum so students can get the "Abi" at the end of the 12th grade. Other States are making the transition but may still require a 13th grade.

Gesamtschule
The Gesamtschule, or comprehensive school, is only found in some of the states. It takes the place of both the Hauptschule and Realschule. It enrolls students of all ability levels in the 5th through the 10th grades. Students who satisfactorily complete the Gesamtschule through the 9th grade receive the Hauptschule certificate, while those who satisfactorily complete schooling through the 10th grade receive the Realschule certificate.
Berufsschule
Beyond the Hauptschule and Realschule lies the Berufsschule, combining part-time academic study and apprenticeship. The successful completion of an apprenticeship program leads to certification in a particular trade or field of work. These schools differ from the other ones mentioned in that control rests not with the local and regional school authorities, but with the federal government, industry and the trade unions.

No matter what kind of school a student attends, he/she must complete at least nine years of education. A student dropping out of a Gymnasium, for example, must enroll in a Realschuleor Hauptschule until nine years have been completed. Students are required to study at minimum one foreign language for at least five years. A second foreign language is required inGymnasium.

The School Day
German students at public schools attend school in the morning. Classes normally start between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. and can end between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. Class periods are normally 45 minutes long with a short break in between. There is no provision for serving lunch. There can be a lot of homework and heavy emphasis on the "three Rs" - reading, writing and aRithmatic. The curriculum expands as students move up from Grundschule and depends on which of the three secondary schools they attend.

The School Year
The school year consists of two semesters and normally starts around the middle to end of August. There are longer breaks at Christmas and in the summer. Shorter breaks are around Easter and in autumn. There is no school on public holidays. The Christmas break is usually 2 weeks and the summer break is about 6 weeks. The exact dates of the various vacations and breaks are set by the individual Länder.

Special Needs students
There are different schools for students with special needs called Sonderschule orFörderschule. Depending on the individual's needs and a school's availability, a student can attend one of the special schools. These schools are staffed with specially trained teachers and generally have a smaller student to teacher ratio than the regular schools. Some special needs students don't attend these schools and are integrated into a Hauptschule or Gesamtschule.

Private Schools
There are a number of different types of private schools in Germany. These schools usually charge tuition and may offer varied courses leading to the German Abitur as well as other diplomas and certificates at the conclusion of studies.


Home Schooling
Home schooling is illegal in Germany. The law requiring students to attend public schools or approved private schools has been upheld despite challenges to it.

Higher Education
There are several varieties of university-level schools. The classical universities, in the tradition of Alexander von Humboldt, provide a broad general education and students usually attend them for up to six years. However, in recent years there have been changes to the curriculum allowing a university student to acquire a Bachelor Degree after 4 years. The Technical Universities (Technische Hochschulen) are more aimed at training students for specific careers and are usually attended for four years. There are also Hochschulen for art and music.

Sightseeing in Berlin

Guess the Sign - 2

Can you guess what this sign means?

Siemens Technik Akademie Berlin

The Siemens Technik Akademie Berlin is located at the Siemens headquarters and is a dual program apprenticeship school for young men and women ages 16-24.  The program allows them to gain the theoretical and practical knowledge they will need to in order to be compateitve and productive employees.  

Below are some of the notes I took during our visit:

• Education is future
• Education is local

• 40 training centers in Germany plus International programs
• 2000+ new students/apprentices per year
• ~7000 total students/apprentices
• 47,000 applicants per year 
• Business, technical, and dual study programs
• Dual education system
• Handlungskompetenz - Employees highly qualified, highly employable, highly productive, future oriented 
• Ages 16 - 25 either after 10th grade, 13rh grade, or university 

• Practical job training, employed by company (75%)
• Theory provided by state - vocational school (25%)
• Everything taught in both German and English 

• Smart System - IT driven technologies
• Very project and process oriented learning
• Project presentations as learning results
• Knowledge management and networking
• Self dependent web based comprehensive learning
• Continual evaluation
• Students use Fujitsu laptops which they purchase on their own. Used for school projects 
• Every Friday have a feedback round to share how and what they learned that week
• Collaborative work. 
• Have a lottery each week for seating. 
• Students eventually create a program for seating. 
• Self dependent students
• Students are ready to learn. They want to be there. They self reflect 

• Students are paid to go to school and are held accountable for their work. 
• They can really focus in their classes instead of work, etc. absenteeism is not an issue.
• Take turns making notes. 

• Teachers are more facilitators or coaches 

• Practical applications presentation by students:
• Filling machine- creating a system that will fill a cup with water
• Must go through the complete process
• Planning, execution, reflection, quality control, programming
• Students that presented had not used the machine, but knew the processes and application of each station
• Programming, networking, team work work
• Activities are divided into modules or stations

More information from the presentation:

Reichstag Dome

The Reichstag dome is a glass dome, constructed on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building in Berlin. It was designed by architect Norman Fosterand built to symbolize the reunification of Germany. The distinctive appearance of the dome has made it a prominent landmark in Berlin.

The Reichstag dome is a large glass dome with a 360 degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. The debating chamber of the Bundestag, the German parliament, can be seen down below. A mirrored cone in the center of the dome directs sunlight into the building, and so that visitors can see the working of the chamber. The dome is open to the public and can be reached by climbing two steel, spiraling ramps that are reminiscent of a double-helix. The Dome symbolizes that the people are above the government, as was not the case during National Socialism.

The glass dome was also designed by Foster to be environmentally friendly. Energy efficient features involving the use of the daylight shining through the mirrored cone were applied, effectively decreasing the carbon emissions of the building.

The futuristic and transparent design of the Reichstag dome makes it a unique landmark, and symbolizes Berlin's attempt to move away from a past of Nazism and instead towards a future with a heavier emphasis on a united, democratic Germany.

The glass dome is pretty amazing, to say the least. Its architecture is stunning, with the beautiful glass dome sitting on top of it. You can see Berlin's panoramic view from the rooftop and the top of the glass dome, like the massive Tierpark and the TV tower. The dome is perfectly crafted, with the ramp spiraling up on either side of the dome.