How do biology teachers inspire students about their subject? The first “Workshop on Biological Sciences” brought together eight students from the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts in Tel Aviv with eight Goethe University biosciences students to learn exactly how – together, and by engaging in mutual exchange. In addition to lectures, the workshop program included a visit to the Riedberg Gymnasium, guided tours through the Senckenberg Museum and the Opel Zoo. The social program gave the visitors entirely new insights into Jewish life in Frankfurt.
It’s cold and windy the Monday morning the participants meet for the first time at the Biologicum on Campus Riedberg. The Israeli students and their instructors had arrived the day before. For some, it’s their first time in Germany – for all, it’s the first exchange experience with a university abroad. The multinational workshop participants initially sit down in small, separate groups, snippets of German, Hebrew, and English fill the room. But already the introductory round gives reason to learn more than just names. Many Israeli names have meanings – sometimes even ones associated with the natural sciences. Yuval explains that her name means “stream”, while Bar references the roots of the word “wild” in her first name, and Shahar says her name means “sunrise.”
German names can also have meanings, adds Prof. Ingo Ebersberger, explaining that his first name derives from “Ingwio”, the tribal god of the Germanic tribe of the Ingvaeones. Then, the Dean of Research at the Faculty of Biosciences draws the bridge to education, where imagery is ideally suited to opening students’ eyes: “In teaching, especially in communication across borders, communities, and cultures, it is crucial to convey to your conversational partner the images you have in your mind. For young teachers, this is often extremely difficult, since children can get bored and don’t understand why they have to learn something. The goal is to show them why it’s important, interesting, maybe even cool.” The natural sciences, math, and IT are particularly well-suited here, he adds, since many concepts are based on “common sense.”
Ebersberger advises the students to use their time together to talk, connect, have fun, and think about similar “common sense” learning strategies. Then it’s time to move on – the clock is ticking and there is no way to delay the next agenda item: a ninth-grade class at Riedberg Gymnasium starts on the dot.
“Train the people who will later educate our children”
The first exchange between the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts in Tel Aviv – where around a quarter of all teachers in Israel graduate from – and Goethe University’s Faculty of Biosciences was meticulously prepared by Dr. Anne Schrimpf-Alt (Research and International Affairs Officer), Prof. Dr. Adiv Gal (Kibbutzim College’s Dean of Natural Sciences), and his colleague Dr. Iris Alkaher.
Together, they created an extensive program for the visit, which lasted from March 31 to April 4 and included lectures and a school visit as well as trips to the Opel Zoo, the Senckenberg Museum, and the University’s science garden. There was also an accompanying social program, designed by Sandra Binnert (Faculty of Educational Sciences) and Dr. Schrimpf-Alt, which included visits to the Westend Synagogue, a guided tour of Frankfurt’s Jewish Museum, and an introduction to the concept of Stolpersteine. “In these difficult times, it is important for us to train the people who will later educate our children,” summarized Prof. Ebersberger. A highlight for the students from both countries: exchanging ideas – such as during the joint class visit at Riedberg Gymnasium.
Onomatopoeia “at work”: The Hebrew word for cricket is tsar-tsar
The school is just a short walk away from the Biologicum and Riedberg Campus. The students use the opportunity to make first connections. The following day will include a study unit on the behavior of two-spotted crickets – an interesting topic, the Israeli students agree, even though many are fonder of other animals. Tomer, for example, loves marine life – from fish to dolphins and sharks. The 21-year-old studies special and science education; it’s her first time in Germany.
Ebersberger’s encouragement to apply the “common senses” finds immediate use during the walk. “The Hebrew word for cricket is ‘tsar-tsar’,” explains 27-year-old Yuval. “The pronunciation sounds just like the noise the insects make.” Unknowingly, the Israeli student is already creating a link to the upcoming lesson, where everything centers on “hearing”.
The arrival at the school is another experience in senses, hearing, and cross-cultural commonalities. The last week of upper secondary school has begun, students dressed in costumes are walking the hallways and music blares from one of the halls during the breaks. The theme is “Childhood Heroes” – on their tour through the premises, the group passes Super Mario, Pikachu, Pippi Longstocking, and Harley Quinn. Set against the musical backdrop of “Macarena”, the arrival could not have been more fitting. After all, nothing is more suited than pop culture when it comes to transcending borders: Super Mario definitely was and is an intercultural childhood superhero just as much as the tune of “Macarena” is globally recognized, complete with accompanying dance moves, which people the world over have mastered.
In the school’s auditorium, Dr. Maria Kleemiß, interim head of the Natural Sciences Department, welcomes the guests, who are accompanied by Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel, Dean of Goethe University’s Faculty of Biosciences. She shares some facts about the school: at just 16 years old, the eco-friendly building is practically still a teenager, but one that is home to nearly 130 teachers. “The school has maintained a partnership with Goethe University for twelve years now,” Klimpel adds.
Listening to each other, learning from one another, exchanging ideas
In Dr. Anne Hahn’s classroom, everything is prepared for the visitors. Today’s topic: perception – more specifically, hearing. The biology teacher plays seven different sound clips and asks the class to form pairs and rank the sounds according to how pleasant or unpleasant they find them.
Ocean waves, a lawnmower, birdsong, a crying baby, street traffic – the discussions show that while many perceptions are shared, differences do exist. For Goethe University student Isabella, 26, who’s completing her bachelor’s in biosciences, the sound of ocean waves is soothing. Her discussion partner Shahar, 24, who studies special and science education, finds its regularity rather unpleasant. On birdsong, they both agree: pleasant! And street and construction noise is definitely not pleasant to either one’s ear – which brings the topic of conversation to another commonality uniting the city partners Frankfurt and Tel Aviv: Construction in each metropolis seems never ending.
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Four days later, during a common lunch at Westend Campus, one thing is clear: the students participating in the first “Workshop on Biological Sciences” found many commonalities. What differences did exist had nothing to do with nationality or religion. As such, Lily from Israel and Giorgio from Frankfurt are both opposed to zoos. Still, they took part in the guided tour – and afterward explained to their fellow students why they object to keeping animals in zoos. A perfect example of listening to each other, learning from one another, and exchanging ideas.
