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We have that in Germany with regards to Science subjects in grade 5-7 (depending on the state / region). So roughly speaking there is a class about science topi

We have that in Germany with regards to Science subjects in grade 5-7 (depending on the state / region). So roughly speaking there is a class about science topics where children would learn about things that would normally be taught in biology, geography, chemistry, physics. From what I hear no one is really happy with it (except principals who are more flexible assigning their staff to classes). So parents and teachers alike aren't very happy. A fixed and subject based curriculum is easier to teach and and easier to pick up. The things you learn are presented in a proper order, that gives orientation. If you present them more interspersed its disorienting, and at times appears random. And its beyond me how the "interconnectedness" of subjects cannot be taught within a classical subject-based model.

maltelandwehr 6y ago
In which Bundesländer is that done and when was it introduced? I am German but never heard of it.
- wirrbel 6y ago
  BaWü, definitely in Unterstufe at Realschule. Don't know if they have remodelled it in the meantime but I haven't heard so.
TsiCClawOfLight 6y ago
I had something like that in elementary school in Belgium and it was amazing. I have never been taught so well since then, except for 1 case in University! Many topics are much easier to understand (and generalise from, and memorise!) if they are tackled from multiple angles, without regard for "subjects". We would approach them with some math, some history, physics, biology, ecology - whatever helped. And since everything was well organized, lessons built upon the previous ones and all prerequisites were introduced at the correct time. This even had the advantage that we would remember more abstract math and formulae well, because we knew where we had used it to learn interesting things! :) Of course, that probably took a lot of work and dedication (1 teacher did all of it for each school year), even more so for high school I suppose. But it was worth it, and the lack of integration/connection is one of the biggest problems I see with the current school system in Germany/Austria.
- qayxc 6y ago
  The biggest problem in public schools is money above everything else. My mother is a teacher and so I have to listen to her horror stories at least once a week. There's simply not enough teachers, run-down schools, outdated equipment, unmotivated teachers some of whom spend more time "sick" at home than in school and regular experiments with curricula teaching methods... I never thought I'd become that guy, but as of late I've come to realise that the best teachers I had were indeed the "Neulehrer" - people who, after WW2 were assigned teaching jobs without formal pedagogical education due to lack of personell back then. These teachers knew their subjects, didn't give a crap about "advisories" from the state's education board and taught based on decades of experience. Their methods sometimes seemed oddly out of place and even archaic, but they were effective ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

maltelandwehr 6y ago

In which Bundesländer is that done and when was it introduced? I am German but never heard of it.

wirrbel 6y ago
BaWü, definitely in Unterstufe at Realschule. Don't know if they have remodelled it in the meantime but I haven't heard so.

TsiCClawOfLight 6y ago

I had something like that in elementary school in Belgium and it was amazing. I have never been taught so well since then, except for 1 case in University! Many topics are much easier to understand (and generalise from, and memorise!) if they are tackled from multiple angles, without regard for "subjects". We would approach them with some math, some history, physics, biology, ecology - whatever helped. And since everything was well organized, lessons built upon the previous ones and all prerequisites were introduced at the correct time. This even had the advantage that we would remember more abstract math and formulae well, because we knew where we had used it to learn interesting things! :) Of course, that probably took a lot of work and dedication (1 teacher did all of it for each school year), even more so for high school I suppose. But it was worth it, and the lack of integration/connection is one of the biggest problems I see with the current school system in Germany/Austria.

qayxc 6y ago
The biggest problem in public schools is money above everything else. My mother is a teacher and so I have to listen to her horror stories at least once a week. There's simply not enough teachers, run-down schools, outdated equipment, unmotivated teachers some of whom spend more time "sick" at home than in school and regular experiments with curricula teaching methods... I never thought I'd become that guy, but as of late I've come to realise that the best teachers I had were indeed the "Neulehrer" - people who, after WW2 were assigned teaching jobs without formal pedagogical education due to lack of personell back then. These teachers knew their subjects, didn't give a crap about "advisories" from the state's education board and taught based on decades of experience. Their methods sometimes seemed oddly out of place and even archaic, but they were effective ¯\_(ツ)_/¯