Callie's CIDRE Portfolio
Callie Kirsch holds and elementary education degree from North Carolina State University. She teaches Connected World, a global arts class that is centered around culture, sustainability, technology as tools, and collaboration. She loves being outside and can generally be spotted around Raleigh biking, gardening, reading, or snacking.
Written Reflections
Reflection on German Education System
Upon reading the two articles, the ideas that I kept coming back to were related to the determination of tracks in Germany and teacher preparation.
In Germany, students are placed onto a specific educational path after primary school, which at first glance seems significantly different from students in The States, where every student goes through 12 years of schooling. Upon reflection of my own education, I realize that our paths, too, are often put into place at the end of elementary school based on grades. I began taking "honors" classes and advanced courses in 6th grade, and though it was easy to decrease in rigor, it was more complicated to join honors or AP courses with a "university track" after being enrolled in regular education courses. Though at first I thought the German Education system is starkly contrasting that of the United States, there are many similarities between the education structures of the two countries.
However, the differences between teacher preparation are quite dissimilar between Germany and the United States. Where the internship portion of teaching is unpaid in The States (and student teachers are required to pay for university courses during that time as well), training in Germany is paid. Hopefully, the United States will consider adopting a paid internship program in the near future to support future educators!
Visual Thinking Analysis
This is a confessional in the Ettal Abbey. The original Gothic-style church was built between 1330 and 1370. After being mostly destroyed by a fire in 1744, the church was rebuilt in Baroque style.
In this confessional, there are curtain drapes where the priest enters, and a diagonal grate where the church member speaks through to the priest to confess their sins. In addition to the carved woodwork, the confessor is able to see a bow-carrying skeleton, draped in light colored cloth, holding the skull of another skeleton. There is an additional black cloth, a table, and an hourglass that is warped. This artifact immediately caught my attention in the church.
Confession is a time where a human repents wrongdoings and asks for forgiveness in order to go to heaven after death. As a person who grew up Roman Catholic, this is an unusual piece for a modern Catholic person to look at while performing the sacrament of reconciliation, but likely connects with memento mori, which literally means "Remember you must die".
As far as the colors are concerned, it is in the style of chiaroscuro, with a great emphasis on light and dark, likely to highlight the implications of death in that Catholics believe and afterlife of in heaven and hell, light and dark, good and evil.
Cultural Insights
Observation 1: Mongol tapestry
On our first day when we visited Residenz München, I noticed that the wording for objects from the East Asia Collection mentioned they were "acquired", which for me seemed like a stretch and avoidance of the reality that they were likely stolen-- especially after seeing the overtly racist "Mongol" tapestry hanging in one of the rooms (in addition to other pieces that were disappointing to me considering the rebuilding after WWII).
However, I also noticed in the Lenbachhaus that curators are making a shift that values the weight of words. A piece was titled "I*** on a Horse" instead of using the derogatory language.
I also saw this article on Twitter today and am thankful for the cultural shifts to being more culturally appropriate and returning stolen items to their homelands. https://mobile.twitter.com/Reuters/status/1546023917361410048
Observation 2: Traditional Clothing
I've enjoyed that Germans wear their traditional clothing (drindl and lederhosen) in everyday life! I've seen women wearing drindl at a summer fest in a beer garden, a man riding his bike in lederhosen, and even this young man in the museum today!
Observation 3: Renewable energy
Solar! I'm delighted by the amount of renewable energy being used in Bavaria. From the small homes to the large farms, and even regional trains, Germans value solar energy. DB currently uses ~62% renewable energy for its trains and is planning to use 100% green energy by 2038! (https://gruen.deutschebahn.com/en/measures/solar-engergy)
Observation 4: Found items
I've seen many objects placed at eye level on my walks and hikes around here. In connection to the cultural value of community and looking into for one another, it seems it is common for this to happen regularly. A perfect example is below from our hike in Ammersee.
Clio Waypoint
Erica, Kaitlin, and Karen Rose joined me on a dreamed about adventure to Starnberger See! It was a super simple direct train ride from the main train station in Munich (Hopbanhof).
We walked along the water's edge, saw an incredible playground, then had pizza by the lake that we ordered from SeeStub'n- Percha.
The German Cultural Values of Being Outdoors
and Engaging in Nature
and Engaging in Nature
Initially, my project was going to focus on outdoor play spaces for children and also gardening in Munich.
However, as we toured Munich, I realized there is a broader umbrella theme that makes more sense when considering the culture of Germany!
As there is an abundance of daylight in July (>15 hours), much of Bavaria in the summer
is outdoors-centric.
is outdoors-centric.
Many Germans will work during the day and then enjoy a hike, go to a biergarten, or ride bikes in the evenings. On weekends, many people who have Kleingarten will tend to the garden. These small plots of land have small sheds with facilities and cooking amenities, so having access to those essentials is already included for a productive, seamless day.
Written/ Multimodal Project
Click the image to check out the blog I created about outdoor spaces-- from hikes and gardens to German children's literature about engaging with nature!
Mapped Representations of Culture
In this Google My Maps, I included locations worth visiting in regards to small community gardens (kleingarten), flower gardens, and also playgrounds for children!
Inquiry-Based Representations of Culture
My research before the trip included learning about community gardens in Munich and how residents utilize this incredible feature.
Representations of Culture in Informal/ Experiential
Learning Spaces
Learning Spaces
Coding Connections
I curated a Scratch Studio with gardens so that learners can enjoy the meditative experiences of growing plants and paying attention to small changes.
The two weeks in Germany allowed me to stop and smell the roses, literally. I feel much more interested in slow-paced outdoor experiences as a result of interacting with the world in Bavaria.
