At its plenary meeting on 17 May 2024, the German-French High School unanimously resolved to continue the successful work of the ‘Media + Methods Group’. This decision marks an important step in the further development of the school’s educational approach. The school will continue to strengthen its pupils’ skills in using modern technologies.
Successful pilot project in Years 5 and 6
During the current school year, the focus of media and methodology work has been on Years 5 and 6. The pupils learnt how to use HP Convertibles and were given a basic introduction to media technology. A working group set up specifically for this purpose, comprising teachers, pupils, parents and guardians, and the school social worker, developed four key modules:
- “Introduction to Online-Schule Saarland”: Pupils learn about the features and how to use the Online School, which gives them access to digital learning resources and teaching content. (Link to the module)
- “Introduction to using a file cloud”: This module covers the basics of storing and sharing documents in the cloud, which facilitates collaboration and access to learning materials. (Link to the module)
- “Introduction to working with word processing programmes (Word)”: Pupils learn the basic functions of Word so that they can create and edit texts professionally. (Link to the module)
- ‘Introduction to working with presentation software (PowerPoint)’: Here, pupils are shown how to create engaging presentations and present their work effectively. (Link to the module)
Positive feedback and demonstrable learning outcomes
The evaluation carried out at the end of the pilot phase shows that pupils were highly satisfied with the programme. Particular emphasis was placed on the practical application and the direct benefits of the skills learnt in everyday school life. The improvement in learning is clearly evident in the results, which underline the success of the project.
Extending the programme to years 8-9
In light of the positive feedback and the successful pilot phase, the media and methodology programme will be extended to middle school classes in the coming school year. The aim is to continue preparing pupils for the demands of the digital world and to deepen their skills in using modern technologies.
The group receives significant support from the MESaar Foundation, which provides long-term funding for the work, and the Institute for Further Education and Training (ILF) in Saarbrücken.
The materials produced by the working group will (where possible) be made available on the federal states’ open education platform, mundo.schule, so that other schools can also benefit from the results. The German-French Gymnasium has its own channel on this platform, which was set up as part of the Digital Pact.
With its decision on 17 May 2024, the whole-school conference of the German-French Gymnasium took an important step towards future-oriented education. We look forward to continuing the project and are convinced that our pupils will continue to benefit from these innovative learning methods.
Other (analogue) methods
From Year 6 onwards
- The Cornell Method (infographic) (template) (interactive learning module)
From Year 7 onwards
- Creating a flowchart (informative text)