Questions for the First Field Trip
- How do students get introduced to use new media, especially the world wide web? Is there an obligatory class or is it assumed that students are familiar with new media?
- How do teachers become familiar with new media in the classroom? Does the school offer workshops or a special training?
- What are the main problems concerning new media in the classroom and how does the school solve these problems?
- Which new media tools and services are actually used in the classroom?
- How do parents react to the new media teaching methods? Are they sceptical or do they appreciate it?
Report on the First Field Trip
The Computerroom of the MLS
As the usage of new media becomes more and more important in our everyday-life, schools have to face the challenge of preparing their students for a life influenced by technical development. To get an impression on how schools in Germany deal with this question, our New Media Class visited the Martin-Luther-Schule in Marburg. There, we were shown the school’s technical equipment. This consists of several useful gadgets such as a mobile cinema, a mobile presenting box and digital cameras as well as speakers. In some classrooms one can find a fixed flat screen with which films and pictures can be shown. The school is also equipped with an intranet, wireless LAN internet connection and 26 notebooks, which can be used in class. Furthermore, there is a media room equipped with 11 computers, a presenter and internet connection. In this room, new media education takes mainly place.
But how do students get introduced to use new media in the classroom? The school does not offer a class to make the students familiar with new media and according to a school’s teacher some pupils don’t know how to use a computer for work. To solve this problem, the Martin-Luther-Schule hands out USB-sticks to every pupil in class 5. On this stick, called “Digitale Schultasche”, the students can find useful software such as the windows office tools and a manual how to use these tools. Furthermore, they can use the sticks to save their work and make sure, that their data is compatible with the computers used in school.
Of course the teachers also have to get used to new media in the classroom. To prepare the teachers for the usage of new media in class the school offers introductory seminars once a new tool or gadget is acquired. Unfortunately, the number of participants is very small. Mainly the younger teachers apply for the seminars. All in all there are about 30 teachers from a total of 100 who use new media in their classes they teach. A reason for this might be incompetence and therefore anxiety.
Parents also react with a skeptical attitude towards the usage of new media in school. Especially the usage of the world wide web causes uncertainty. Parents are scared of misuse of their children’s personal data and they forbid the use of social communities. If students want to use the internet in school without being supervised by teachers they have to get the permission of their parents being shown on a special passport.
If the students are allowed to they can do research and homework with the help of the world wide web. Some teachers prepare web-quests and research tasks for their classes. Students are also allowed to use online dictionaries. Besides the world wide web, there are a number of other new media tools used in the classroom. Students often prepare power point presentations and the computer science classes deal with tools such as excel and programming software.
But how do students get introduced to use new media in the classroom? The school does not offer a class to make the students familiar with new media and according to a school’s teacher some pupils don’t know how to use a computer for work. To solve this problem, the Martin-Luther-Schule hands out USB-sticks to every pupil in class 5. On this stick, called “Digitale Schultasche”, the students can find useful software such as the windows office tools and a manual how to use these tools. Furthermore, they can use the sticks to save their work and make sure, that their data is compatible with the computers used in school.
Of course the teachers also have to get used to new media in the classroom. To prepare the teachers for the usage of new media in class the school offers introductory seminars once a new tool or gadget is acquired. Unfortunately, the number of participants is very small. Mainly the younger teachers apply for the seminars. All in all there are about 30 teachers from a total of 100 who use new media in their classes they teach. A reason for this might be incompetence and therefore anxiety.
Parents also react with a skeptical attitude towards the usage of new media in school. Especially the usage of the world wide web causes uncertainty. Parents are scared of misuse of their children’s personal data and they forbid the use of social communities. If students want to use the internet in school without being supervised by teachers they have to get the permission of their parents being shown on a special passport.
If the students are allowed to they can do research and homework with the help of the world wide web. Some teachers prepare web-quests and research tasks for their classes. Students are also allowed to use online dictionaries. Besides the world wide web, there are a number of other new media tools used in the classroom. Students often prepare power point presentations and the computer science classes deal with tools such as excel and programming software.
The teacher's desk
The biggest problem the school has to solve concerning the usage of new media in school is the control of the usage of the internet. To prevent misuse the teacher can control the student’s activity with a certain software. The teacher can block certain web pages or access the student’s computer. Other problems which occur in the media classroom are concerned with the equipment: The web connection sometimes is very slow, sometimes there are problems of compatibility and the computers don’t have a sound-system.
All in all, the Martin Luther Schule offers the opportunity to integrate new media in class. They acquired the basic equipment for new media education and found useful solutions for problems such as the misuse of the internet. Still, it depends on the teacher to which extent new media is actually used in the classroom. And as long as teachers don’t make themselves familiar with new media tools, students won’t have the opportunity to be educated in new media usage.
All in all, the Martin Luther Schule offers the opportunity to integrate new media in class. They acquired the basic equipment for new media education and found useful solutions for problems such as the misuse of the internet. Still, it depends on the teacher to which extent new media is actually used in the classroom. And as long as teachers don’t make themselves familiar with new media tools, students won’t have the opportunity to be educated in new media usage.