GDCh Centre for Teacher Training

Unless otherwise stated, registration is by email to kirstin.brezesinski@ph-karlsruhe.de.

The registration deadline is approximately one week before the training date. Participation in all courses is free of charge; however, travel expenses cannot be reimbursed.

We would ask participants from Rhineland-Palatinate to obtain prior approval (“in the interests of the service”) from the Rhineland-Palatinate State Institute for Education (Ms Müller-Anstätt, 0671 9701-2127) in advance so that you are insured in accordance with the provisions of the accident insurance scheme.

A key feature of our training centre is that training courses can also be held at interested schools and training institutions in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and other federal states. The training courses are free of charge for the schools and for the participating teachers.

It is also possible to invite external speakers as guests. The costs of the training sessions can be covered, subject to agreement with us.

Around 240 teachers exchanged ideas at the Chemie.BW Teachers’ Conference on 15 November. Prof. Ducci delivered the engaging opening lecture, “The Orange – a Fruity Experiment Kit!”. In addition to a further talk in the afternoon, the programme featured a total of 11 different information forums and an ‘Opportunities Fair’ with numerous exhibitors. The Institute of Chemistry at the Karlsruhe University of Education was represented not only by the experimental lecture but also by an information stand on the GDCh Teacher Training Centre, where teachers were able to try out the experiments from the lecture for themselves.

Photos: Chemie.BW / Thomas Wagner

Südwestmetall, SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT and the ‘MINT Zukunft schaffen’ initiative organised the 2023 MINT Congress on 6 October at the Karlsruhe University of Education (PHKA). The programme featured practical workshops for primary school teachers as well as for secondary school teachers.

Image credits: BBQ Bildung und Berufliche Qualifizierung gGmbH

The Rhineland-Palatinate STEM Days took place on 27 and 28 September 2023 at the Alte Lokhalle in Mainz. The programme for the first day was aimed at nursery teachers and primary school teachers. Of the eight workshops held, half were organised by the Institute of Chemistry at the PHKA. Ms Niemöller and Dr Schmitz focused on the topics of ‘fire’ and ‘carbon dioxide’. Dr Brezesinski and Prof. Ducci led workshops focusing on ‘solubility’ and ‘colours’. The second day was set aside for secondary school teachers. The workshop led by Dr Brezesinski and Prof. Ducci, which was very well attended both in the morning and the afternoon, was entitled ‘Electrochemical building blocks for chemistry lessons’.

Photos: Klaus Venus

After 359 training courses involving more than 5,600 teachers and 45,387 kilometres travelled (with just one speed camera photo!) the Karlsruhe Chemistry Teachers’ Training Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary on 22 March 2023 with around 90 guests.

In the afternoon, three workshops began for the invited teachers: ‘Bridges – Inventing and Constructing’ (Science & Technologie e.V.), ‘Understanding Chemistry through Beautiful and Surprising Phenomena’ (Prof. Klemens Koch, PH Bern) and ‘Experiments on Modern Materials and Sustainability in Chemistry Lessons’ (Prof. Dr Stefan Schwarzer, University of Tübingen) for the invited teachers in the premises of the Institute of Chemistry.

During the subsequent speech in the lecture theatre, Prof. Stefan Schwarzer, as Chair of the GDCh Commission for Teacher Training, congratulated the Training Centre and conveyed the Commission’s and the GDCh’s congratulations. In his speech, he paid tribute, amongst other things, to the diverse programme and the dedication of the staff at the Karlsruhe site. Both, he said, had helped to create many enlightening moments for teachers both regionally and beyond over the past 10 years. Following a warm welcome from Prof. Klaus-Peter Rippe (Rector of the PHKA) and a brief speech by Dr Albert Käuflein (Mayor), Prof. Matthias Ducci (Head of the Teacher Training Centre) also said a few words. He once again thanked the GDCh, the associations of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in Baden-Württemberg (Chemie.BW) and the PHKA for their support over the past 10 years. Prof. Amitabh Banerji from the University of Potsdam then rounded off the programme with a fascinating experimental talk entitled ‘Printed Electronics: The Hand-Printed, Flexible Zinc-Manganese Dioxide Battery – Future Technology in the Classroom’.

Everyone enjoyed a cosy end to the evening with cold drinks, finger food and lively conversation. We would like to express our sincere thanks once again to the GDCh, Chemie.BW and, in particular, Dr Tobias Pacher for their support.