Over the course of three weeks, the 9th-grade students worked in teams of three or four to create a complete presentation on a topic of their choice. They were able to select from subjects offered by all their teachers. The final results were graded both with an oral mark in the corresponding subject—such as physics or geography—and in German, where the presentation replaced two impromptu written tests.
A major boost in motivation and support came from the 360 Competence Team from Augsburg, led by Michael Scheidl. Over the course of two days, each class had its turn. The classes were split in half, and each group worked with a trainer for a full day, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., learning how to speak effectively in a presentation, how to create a good and engaging introduction, and how to present a topic with confidence and clarity. This experience certainly helped students not just with the project presentation but also in their personal development.
What the students learned during this training will stay with them, and many will recall these skills when working on projects or speaking in front of an audience—both during future school assignments and later in their professional lives.
Ruth Riedle
