Communication of technological aspects to primary schools and pre-school facilities by students of engineering sciences
Module BGU43016
This module handbook serves to describe contents, learning outcome, methods and examination type as well as linking to current dates for courses and module examination in the respective sections.
Module version of WS 2013/4
There are historic module descriptions of this module. A module description is valid until replaced by a newer one.
Whether the module’s courses are offered during a specific semester is listed in the section Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature below.
| available module versions | |
|---|---|
| SS 2014 | WS 2013/4 |
Basic Information
BGU43016 is a year module in German language at Bachelor’s level which is offered every semester.
This Module is included in the following catalogues within the study programs in physics.
- Catalogue of soft-skill courses
| Total workload | Contact hours | Credits (ECTS) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 h | h | 1 CP |
Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions
Content
The TUM Engineering School Open Day and Informatik 4ING discovered in a study that a substantial cause for the expected shortfall of Engineers in Germany can be attributed to a lack of communication of technical content to primary school aged children. Young people with low education exposure in particular display little motivation, or enthusiasm and a low goal orientation towards engineering careers. Students can act as excellent ambassadors bringing this content into schools as they, due to their age and enthusiasm, can become positive role models.
For this reason it is planned to encourage students to visit primary schools and bring fundamental natural principles to life together with the children. The course provides students with key skills such as structured approach, communication, summarisation of results etc.
1. Preparation / Information
In an initial meeting the students will recieve all required information regarding the visits.
Experiments from the fields of
- Air
- Water
- Magnets
- Force
- Friction
- Levers
are possible. The students choose four to five experiments from the catalog which they then prepare.
2. Preparation of the experiments
As preparation for the experiments the students gather the needed objects and practise the experiments themselves. Three to five students form groups, make contact with primary schools and, when the school is interested, confirm a date. Each group may be reinforced by additional members (Retired Engineers, teaching associates).
3. Experiments
As part of the actual experiments, the students perform the tests in the schools. One student performs the experiment while the other students divide themselves amongst the schoolchildren. The children are split up into small groups of five to six. It is important to communicate with the schoolchildren on their level and to try to instill enthusiasm and interest in the children.
4. Evaluation
After the presentation the students prepare a short written report detailing the response to their experiment and their feedback for future improvement. The Teachers and schoolchildren also have the opportunity to provide feedback and assess the event.
For this reason it is planned to encourage students to visit primary schools and bring fundamental natural principles to life together with the children. The course provides students with key skills such as structured approach, communication, summarisation of results etc.
1. Preparation / Information
In an initial meeting the students will recieve all required information regarding the visits.
Experiments from the fields of
- Air
- Water
- Magnets
- Force
- Friction
- Levers
are possible. The students choose four to five experiments from the catalog which they then prepare.
2. Preparation of the experiments
As preparation for the experiments the students gather the needed objects and practise the experiments themselves. Three to five students form groups, make contact with primary schools and, when the school is interested, confirm a date. Each group may be reinforced by additional members (Retired Engineers, teaching associates).
3. Experiments
As part of the actual experiments, the students perform the tests in the schools. One student performs the experiment while the other students divide themselves amongst the schoolchildren. The children are split up into small groups of five to six. It is important to communicate with the schoolchildren on their level and to try to instill enthusiasm and interest in the children.
4. Evaluation
After the presentation the students prepare a short written report detailing the response to their experiment and their feedback for future improvement. The Teachers and schoolchildren also have the opportunity to provide feedback and assess the event.
Learning Outcome
After participating in the Never fear – Start engineering course, the students have developed experience in demonstrating a variety of natural and engineering science themes and the principles behind them including the classification of these principles together with the primary school children.
Preconditions
no info
Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature
Courses and Schedule
WS 2022/3
SS 2022
WS 2021/2
SS 2020
WS 2019/20
SS 2019
WS 2018/9
SS 2018
WS 2017/8
SS 2017
WS 2016/7
SS 2016
WS 2015/6
SS 2015
| Type | SWS | Title | Lecturer(s) | Dates | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS | 1 | Never fear - Start engineering |
Learning and Teaching Methods
The natural and engineering science experiments which are to be performed with the schoolchildren will be practiced first in small groups with teaching associates and the students will be involved in developing a child friendly explanation of the different phenomena. Small groups will also take part in the school visits and the experiments will be shown and actively presented.
Media
Use of materials for the experiments which will be organised by the Chair.
Literature
no info
Module Exam
Description of exams and course work
The contents of the course Never fear – Start engineering will be assessed through an extracurricular projectwork.
The goal of the course Never fear – Start engineering is that students, as part of their extra-disciplinary fundamentals, visit Primary schools and carry out small experiments from the natural and engineering science fields with school children. The idea is not to deal with complex content as in regular courses but to present primary school level themes in a didatic manner and communicate these to the school children. As such the actual knowledge development of student will not be assessed, rather the ability to independantly prepare and communicate knowledge. This will be evaluated through successful participation in the school visits.
The goal of the course Never fear – Start engineering is that students, as part of their extra-disciplinary fundamentals, visit Primary schools and carry out small experiments from the natural and engineering science fields with school children. The idea is not to deal with complex content as in regular courses but to present primary school level themes in a didatic manner and communicate these to the school children. As such the actual knowledge development of student will not be assessed, rather the ability to independantly prepare and communicate knowledge. This will be evaluated through successful participation in the school visits.