I am a psychologist, working in Austria as a trainer and consultant mainly in the field of adult education with a focus on the empowerment of women. I have gathered many years of expertise in the areas mentoring, gender equality and equal pay among others. In 2018 I received the Käthe-Leichter Award for women’s and gender studies and gender equality in the working world from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research. I aim to apply my experience and knowledge in order to inspire women for personal growth and political action.
I co-founded the research institute Sofia – Institute for comprehensive and applied social research for which I have conducted several studies, most recently a study on Women aged 50 and above which has initiated a very active women’s network. www.institut-sofia.at
For the past 30 years I have been using CMW in my work as a lecturer at the University of Vienna. – first in Women´s Studies within the Educational Science department and for the last 10 years as a part of the teacher’s education programme.
Kerstin’s Contribution at the Symposium
Collective Memory-Work in Teacher Training
The title of my university course is “Collective Memory Work on Learning at School”, it centres on students’ own learning experiences. Here, “learning” is topically reflected as well as experienced as a process during the course. In my experience CMW is a method that makes self-determined and enjoyable learning possible in this context.
My own role as lecturer is that of a guide and facilitator. I create a clear framework and provide a reliable structure, which includes a methodological orientation and guidance for the groups of students engaging in CMW in the course. The collectives determine the content, i.e. the actual topics of the students’ collective work, and they organise the work process themselves.
My students are prospective teachers. The topics they choose are supposed to be of interest to them as well as relevant for their future practise as schoolteachers. The aim of the course is always for students to develop increased capacities to act in their chosen topical field.
In this session I will share my insights with CMW as a method of self-determined learning and exchange experiences with the participants. We will discuss the potentials, pitfalls and fields of tension of using CMW in university based teacher education as well as the way students might apply elements of CMW in their future work as teachers.