When you think of the classic district picture centre, you often remember the rhythmic clacking of slide projectors or the laborious threading of 16mm films. But those days are now history in Blieskastel. The Saarpfalz district institution is in the process of developing into a "Media Centre+" - a modern centre of excellence that offers more than just hardware on the shelf.
Reason enough for Mark Herzog, Head of the Department for Shaping Social Change, Education and Demography, and the Head of the Media Centre, Anne Speicher, to present the new content and structures to District Administrator Frank John.
As the former head of the controlling department in the Saarpfalz district (2003 to 2009), the district administrator still remembers the necessary inventory of the former district image centre. But film reels and video cassettes are now a thing of the past.
"In the past, technology for education was often self-explanatory - switch on, focus: done. Today, digital learning systems are more versatile, but also require more explanation, which makes it more difficult for educational stakeholders in schools, daycare centres and the like to use them. The 'Plus' in the name therefore now stands for counselling, support and the targeted promotion of media skills. It's not just about using technology, but about how it enriches learning processes in an educationally meaningful way,
explained Anne Speicher.
MINT magic: When 70 robots go on a discovery tour
The centrepiece of the reorientation is the establishment and expansion of a STEM area. Based on a targeted needs analysis among specialists, the stock has been successively modernised since 2023. There are now over 70 educational robots for all age groups on the shelves waiting to be programmed. There are also experiment boxes, VR glasses and tablets, for example. The media centre provides tools for the explorers of tomorrow.
It was also essential for the District Administrator to follow his spirit of discovery and test the aforementioned learning tech tools, which were laid out as part of a small course, with a certain amount of enthusiasm. His enthusiasm was clear to see.
"I am delighted that our media centre is undergoing this change and that we will be able to meet the educational needs of our society in a contemporary way from now on. I would like to thank the staff for their commitment to date and wish the media centre every success, which I certainly do not question,
emphasised District Administrator Frank John in conclusion.
Expertise: Joline Jochum-Wern as a media education guide
In order to fulfil the high standards of content quality, the Saarpfalz district has created a position for media education counselling. In Joline Jochum-Wern, educational stakeholders in the Saarpfalz district will in future have an expert at their side who knows how to communicate STEM topics (maths, IT, science and technology) in an exciting way. She offers workshops, individual counselling and support for professionals - added value that goes beyond the mere lending process. Children and young people can look forward to new formats in the future. For example, a so-called "MI(N)TTWOCH" is planned, where curiosity about technology will be awakened under titles such as "Tinkering with electricity and robots".
The Media Centre+ offers an exclusive service: it lends to actors from schools, daycare centres, children's and youth facilities as well as non-profit organisations or associations in the Saarpfalz district. Lending to private individuals or for commercial purposes is not possible. This centralised pool for educational stakeholders in the Saarpfalz district is not only economically smart, but also ecologically sustainable through shared use.
Strategy with vision
The reorganisation is part of the Saarpfalz district's long-term STEM strategy. The aim is to strengthen STEM education in the long term, establish sustainable structures and permanently anchor educational programmes in the district. The fact that the Saarpfalz district is also already a "model district" in the SaarMINT network (funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ)) emphasises the regional importance of this development.
Contact us
While a new homepage and an online catalogue are being worked on in the background to make the inventory visible to everyone, enquiries can currently still be made by email. Interested parties are welcome to contact [email protected] for advice and bookings.