What exactly are living things? And how are we humans, animals and plants actually structured? What influence does the environment have on individual creatures and entire populations? You will get to the bottom of these questions in biology lessons.
The two biology rooms, our extensive collection of exhibits, some of which are of historical significance (e.g. skeletons, alcohol preparations, synthetic resin casts, models, minerals and fossils) and modern laboratory equipment create ideal conditions for teaching the pupils about this diverse subject in a clear and comprehensible way and for achieving a responsible attitude towards themselves and the environment. Experiments, excursions and visits by guest speakers support the learning process.
The subject Chemistry is taught at the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck by Irene Amort, Karl Schauer and Matthias Brünoth (Head of Department). It is a great concern to all three of us to teach chemistry in a way that is real and relevant to everyday life. Particularly in the junior classes, student experiments are central elements of chemistry lessons. “Learning By Doing” is the learning form of choice. But also in the upper levels, student experiments and teacher demonstration experiments are woven into the demanding lessons. In addition, we often try to make links to scientific chemistry and other related sciences such as biology or physics, as well as reference to current chemistry trends.
In the network classes of the upper school, the students use a script compiled by Mag. Brünoth himself, which is very much appreciated. Mag. Schauer prepares the students in the international classes both for the Matura and (if chemistry is chosen as a standard level subject) for the international baccalaureate.
The Chemistry Olympiad is an international competition for pupils from grade 4 onwards that has been held annually since 1968. Austria has been participating since 1974. Several schools, including the Akademisches Gymnasium, offer the non-compulsory elective “Chemistry Olympiad”, where theoretical chemical facts and practical problems are worked out at a higher level and exciting experiments are carried out in two lessons per week. In April, an internal course competition is held at the school, in which the three best students qualify for the national competition in May, which takes place in every province of Austria. The best students from the provincial competitions then represent their respective province at the national competition in June, and the best four students from this competition finally represent Austria at the international competition.
Apart from the preparation for the competitions, the non-compulsory elective “Chemistry Olympiad” is a good preparation for an aspired study of natural sciences or medicine. Future students of chemistry, human medicine, dentistry, molecular medicine, pharmacy, biology, physics, nutritional sciences, etc. will certainly benefit greatly from this course.
Chemistry often has a bad reputation in society. People are quick to think of terrible chemical accidents, environmental pollution, explosions or the misuse of chemical weapons. However, these negative aspects are counterbalanced by a multitude of positive and even vital sides: Medicines and drugs help combat diseases and thus increase life expectancy; natural and synthetic fibres enable us to wear our clothes; building materials and materials of all kinds are indispensable; soaps, cleaning agents, detergents and disinfectants contribute to our hygiene; fertilisers and pesticides secure and increase crop yields. All of this is chemistry. Yes, every human being is chemistry. All our metabolic processes in our body, whether digestion, respiration or blood circulation, are based on chemical processes. Countless chemical compounds in our body are involved in every physiological process, no matter how small, even if it is only a very simple brain activity (such as reading this text). And that is exactly what we want to teach our students: Chemistry is not inherently bad, “chemical” is not promptly a synonym for “dangerous”. Chemistry, like almost everything else in this world, has a positive and a negative side. Without chemistry there would be no life. Without chemistry we could not exist at all. And even if we did – our standard of living would be a little different without chemistry (i.e. without clothes, without medicines, without detergents, etc.) … Mag. Matthias Brünoth
The learning materials below are an invitation to our future pupils to actively try out a learning station on the topic “Austria – Topography”.
Geography and economics is a very diverse and versatile subject. We do not circumnavigate the world in eighty days like Phileas Fogg in the novel by Jules Verne, but need eight school years to do so. In these eight years, different perspectives of our Earth are taken, topics are investigated with differing complexity and in the search for interconnectedness.
Geography and economics lessons are methodologically and didactically diverse. Small excursions, travelling exhibitions or inviting experts are always part of the lessons. Practising various “skills”, such as research methodology, presentation techniques or the use of digital media, play a role in the development of individual and collaborative competencies.
To get an insight, click here.
Physik wird am AGI sehr alltagsbezogen und praxisrelevant unterrichtet. Es werden regelmäßig Verknüpfungen zu den anderen naturwissenschaftlichen Fächern hergestellt.
Dem Lehrer*innenteam der Physik ist es wichtig, dass die Inhalte anhand lebensnaher Beispiele und selbsterprobter/-kreierter Versuche nahegelegt werden.
Im Folgenden können Sie anhand einiger Experimente mehr über den Physikunterricht am AGI erfahren.
Hier finden Sie alle Informationen zur Anmeldung für die 1. Klassen im Schuljahr 2021/22.
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