Dec 09, 2024
Excursion to research-based learning in Sedmihorky
I took part in the cross-border workshop in Sedmihorky at the beginning of September. It was still possible to register at relatively short notice and the trip was very well organized. Despite the rainy weather at the beginning, there was a great atmosphere when we arrived. After an introduction to the “FENIX” project and the focus on research-based learning, there was a short introductory session. An interpreter was on hand to help us overcome the language barrier. After a shared lunch, we began our station work in the beautiful landscape. We completed seven stations in small groups and had the opportunity to try out inquiry-based learning for ourselves. Various experts were on hand to help us while we read the landscape, determined the change in humidity, found out the age of a tree, immersed ourselves in history, examined the pond and used a geographer's compass to determine the inclination of the sedimentary layers in the sandstone. At each station, various methods for working with students were presented and tips for implementation were given. After the implementation, there was a joint dinner and an initial exchange of experiences. This exchange between the teachers from the Czech Republic and the participants from Germany was deepened later in the evening and new contacts were made. Together, we planned the groups for the next day and shared ideas.
After breakfast the next morning, the school classes arrived. Three classes from the Czech Republic and a tenth grade from Germany worked on two stations. At the station that I helped to organize, the location of the former coast was to be determined using the position of the sediment layers. Supervising the small groups and working in teams was a wonderful experience. It was great fun to see that the planned concept worked and that the students were able to answer the research question themselves. The two days were a valuable experience to learn more about learning in nature.
Vanessa Füssel
FENIX is a joint project of the TU Liberec, the TU Dresden, the IHI Zittau of the TU Dresden, the Geopark Ralsko, the North Bohemian Museum Liberec and the Senckenberg Museum Görlitz. The aim of the project is to design materials and methods for a joint cross-border research field education of primary and secondary school teachers, tourist guides, nature conservationists and museum experts focusing on geography, geology, ecology and landscape education in the border region of the Czech Republic and Saxony. FENIX is co-financed by the European Union within the framework of Interreg SN - CZ.
Further excursion pictures:
