Hunfalvy Bilingual Secondary School

Digitale Ideen für den Unterricht

2022-1-HU01-KA121-SCH-000062316

"The project was funded by the European Commission. The views expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission."     

Course organiser:

IIK Düsseldorf

21-25 / 08 / 2023

REPORT

Where was I and why (what was the motivation)?

What will digital education look like in 2023? What are the best practices? What is the toolbox for online education? - these are the questions that have been on my mind the most recently. I chose the course "Digital Ideas in Education" at the Institute for International Communication (IIK) in Düsseldorf primarily to get closer to answering these questions and to expand my methodological toolbox.

About the course

The IIK Düsseldorf - Institute for International Communication - in addition to organising German language courses, plays a leading role in the further training of German language teachers in Germany, and in cooperation with Heinrich Heine University, aims to innovate and share knowledge. Their main focus is on e-learning, online and hybrid courses. The course I chose was very popular, my group mates included not only secondary school teachers but also university teachers, and we had intensive workshops with my German, Turkish and Hungarian colleagues. The organisers of the course put together a varied timetable for us, for 5 days, 8 hours a day, we were immersed in theoretical research and practical exercises in 5 trainer fields. 

During the course, we learned the latest theoretical knowledge and reported on our experience in online and hybrid training. In the practical phase, we tested the most popular tools of digital education: we created exercises for a virtual breakout room, we had a dialogue with chatGPT, during which we "created" an incredible amount of exercises in no time, of the quality expected, for grammar teaching and practice, vocabulary building and written composition. When we needed it, AI also provided us with methodological ideas. We were introduced to the methodology of making interactive video films, and then, in small groups, we made a film and tried out the iMove app.

On the last day, we were given an insight into the day-to-day work of the institute, how digital education and virtual collaboration are implemented. The IIK institute prepares 1500 foreign students from all over the world at the same time for the TestDaF language exam, which is a key test for entering the German labour market or university studies. Geographical distance should not be an obstacle to preparation, and the institution has been professionally prepared for years to implement this synchronous-hybrid teaching and learning format effectively and successfully. State-of-the-art classrooms are available for teachers and students: sound and motion detection cameras, 2 smartboards, 2 monitors, a room microphone and an on-board computer next to the teacher's computer, and tablets for the students present. Let the collaboration between "Roomies" and "Zoomies" begin! All participants in the learning process can hear and see each other, so interaction in both the physical and virtual space is seamless. Don't think of it as a classroom-only learning environment, pairs and groups can be created if all students bring their headphones. It was a glimpse into the school of the future.

How will I use it in my school?

I would like to create a motivating atmosphere of training in my groups. I look forward to hearing my students' reactions and feedback after we have tried out new tools and applications. I hope to contribute to making learning more experiential and effective. 
Making a film can always be exciting, whatever the subject, all you need is a good theme or idea! For projects, I would like my students to make a film using the iMovie app, as interactive videos are perfect for project work.

Afternoon programmes, EU principles

Dusseldorf is a fantastic city, both a guardian of medieval cultural values and a stage for modern art and architecture of the 21st century. During my walk through the Medienhafen district, I was impressed to see that the cranes in the harbour have been preserved as a souvenir of the past and are still a creative reminder of the past. Not only the architecture of the city, but also the training of young people in the fine arts attracts many young people from all over the world. In the K20 museum, I was able to see masterpieces of 20th century contemporary painting, including works by Gerhard Richter, the most famous German painter still alive today.

Along both banks of the Rhine, vast parks and promenades offer residents and tourists alike alike a chance to relax, play sport and enjoy themselves, and truly connect directly with the river. I was surprised to see parrots and Canada geese flitting confidently among the city people, and rabbits hopping around the parks.

The people who live here use the spaces, almost making them their own, and urban planning has succeeded in creating a functional GREEN city.

Short conclusion

I would love to return to this city again in the future and I recommend IIK courses to all my colleagues for the professional and inspiring workshops.