Technology Education B.Sc., Gymnasium and Gesamtschule Teacher

 

Whoever understands how technical inventions work, what they can achieve, and what effects they have on society, can responsibly help shape future developments – maybe as an engineer, but also maybe in politics or in personal consumer behavior.

Technology lessons offer school students an early oppotunity to be introduced to interdisciplinary and practically-oriented, systematic, technical thinking. And it answers the time-old question "Why do I even need math and physics?" with an answer that is literally tangible.

The subject offers teachers ideal flexbility and room to design lively and motivational lessons. It bridges the gap between one's own hanidcrafts, exciting experiments, and theoretical models, between hand skills and academic interest.

During their studies budding teachers will not only focus on a single technical discipline, like in teacher training for vocational schools, but also with the fundamentals of different engineering disciplines.

This allows them to gain a holistic view, with which they can encourage school students to grapple with different technologies and understand how they are intertwined.

 

Degree Content

During the first semester, the course of study offers fundamental math and physics studies. You will acquire more in-depth math skills in differentiating and integrating as well as an understanding of the physics of topics such as mechanics, electronics, and optics. You will need these skills in the following semester, especially for the technical subjects. Finally, you will also have an introduction to the fundamentals of programming.

Throughout the curriculum, subject-didactic modules optimally prepare you to teach the subject matter in schools. Besides more theoretical modules, which are about social science influences on technology or current technical topics, such as energy and resource problems, there are always practical modules, enabling you to get your own handicraft experience, demonstrating how the subject of technology can be taught in an application-oriented manner in schools. For example, during the teacher training internships, you can make your own projects with a 3D printer or a laser cutter. In electronics, you can design small circuits and electronic elements including boards and microcontrollers. In the CAD module, you can learn how to use design programs.

Course of Study Structure

Subject Area	Topics Covered
Fundamentals	Fundamentals of Mathematics and Physics Introduction to Technology Teacher Training
Subject-Specific Didactics and Subjects in Practice	Basic Internships: Skills and Project for Technology Teacher Training Teaching Methodology, Media, and Research Methods
Technical Methods and Processes	Machine Design and CAD Technical Mechanics
Materials Processing Systems	Production Engineering
Energy Processing Systems	Technology and Economy of Power Plants Alternative Energy Technologies
Information Processing Systems	Introduction to Programming Electronics Fundamentals of Computer Science
Technology – Society – Nature	Raw Materials and Recycling Sociology of Technology

 

Combination Possibilities

Two of the following instructional subjects are combined in studies for teachers at Gymnasien and Gesamtschulen: biology, chemistry, German, English, history, computer science, Catholic religious education, math, physics, technology education. Every subject can be equally combined with another. However, computer science and technology education cannot be combined with each other.

Course of Study Model Lehramt at Gymnasien and Gesamtschulen

 

Decision Aids

Should I become a teacher? Do I want to work as a teacher? If you are asking yourself these questions, there are a few services to help you get to know yourself:

RWTH Aachen Self Assessment
All About Teacher Training
Career Counseling for Teachers
Fit für den Lehrerberuf

 

Prerequisites

Enrollment Prerequisite

The RWTH Aachen "Lehramt" Self Assessment is an enrollment prerequisite for this course of study. You will need to submit your participation certificate when you enroll, but not in order to apply.

Personal Prerequisites

Nothing is possible without mathematics. This principle applies to many natural and engineering sciences. The technology teacher training subject is no exception. The mathematics lecture in the first semester offers a concentrated introduction to the mathematical processes that will be applied again and again through students' studies. Interest in math is a prerequisite to taking up these studies. Previous knowledge beyondt the content taught in the Oberstufe is not required. Students get intensive support through exercises, in which experienced students help them solved problems and serve as contact persons for all questions.

If you want to become a technology teacher, you should also be interested in technical problems, processes, and systems. It is helpful to enjoy using your hands to implement something, experimenting with different solution approaches, and trying out different design options. These practical skills help to create a practical, hands on lesson later on.

A critical perspective of technology and its effects is desired, as dealing responsibly with technologies is an important focus of the school lesson.

 

Career Prospects

The subject technology is currently viewed as a subject that is under-offered. Although only a few Gymnasien and Gesamtschulen offer the subject so far, the state government's current STEM activities are initiating more movement in the job market. The need for well-eduated technology teachers is increasingly growing.

You can find information from the NRW Ministry of Schools about the career prospects for various fields of teaching through 2039/2040 in the brochure Prognoses on the Job Market for Teachers in North Rhine-Westphalia (de).

 

Master's Degree Prospects

After successfully completing the Bachelor degree, you can continue with the Master of Education lasting four semesters. With this degree, you can start your teaching practice. This phase used to be called "Refendariat" instead of "Vorbereitungsdienst".

Since your Bachelor degree opens up various futher education possibilities, you can - depending on your subject combination - persue other Master's programs. The respective exam board will decide whether or not you are qualified for a Master's that is not in the field of education.

 

Examination Regulations

Exam regulations regulate academic goals and prerequisites, the course of study layout, and exam procedures. The appendix to the regulations contains the description of the modules, from which the course of study is composed.

General Regulations: Comprehensive Exam Regulations of RWTH Aachen Bachelor Teaching Training for Gymnasien, Gesamtschulen, and Berufskollegs

Special Regulations: Subject Specific Exam Regulations

 

Faculty

Technology education is a joint offer by the Faculties of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences; Civin Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Georesources and Materials Engieering; Electrical Engineering; and Arts and Humanities. The Department of Physics is responsible for the administration of the subject.