DEUFRAMAT (www.deuframat.de)
Germany and France on the Path to a New Europe
The DEUFRAMAT project (German-French materials) is a media project of the Georg Eckert Institute, chaired by Professor Alfred Pletsch (Philipps University, Marburg).
The initial idea for this project came from Brigitte Sauzay, the former advisor to the chancellor on Franco-German relations, and Professor Rudolf von Thadden, the coordinator of Franco-German cooperation in the German foreign office. It is based on the conviction that the rapprochement of German and French civil societies, and in particular young people's involvement with their neighbouring country at a time when European societies are growing closer together, represents an important political task and a special challenge.
Deuframat is a collection of materials available online, which consists of over 100 items about Franco-German history and geography, gathered in six thematic sections. In addition to specialist articles and analyses, each section contains a comprehensive selection of sources, statistics and documents, including images, sound documents and similar materials. An additional module designed especially for teachers and pupils contains additional applications of selected items used for teaching in German schools. It also contains links to accounts of didactic experiences and advice, as well as teaching units and additional materials composed of contributions from the internet.
Materials available in French and German are:
- interdisciplinary, designed to reveal transdisciplinary interconnections;
- bicultural, in order to demonstrate the common features and differences between German and French perspectives and perceptions;
- multiperspectival, insofar as they deal with topics from different temporal, spatial and social points of view;
- bilingual, in order to facilitate contact and cooperation across borders;
- interactive, involving multimedia, so that they reach and motivate young people via the virtual medium of the internet.
- Article from the section "Conflicts"
The internet takes precedence over other forms of presentation (books, printed materials, transparencies). The internet thus facilitates cooperation and communication between French and German partners, and makes it easier to plan and implement conventional forms of contact such as excursions or school exchanges. New forms of virtual collaboration and communication (blog, pinboard, email) can also be employed. These are particularly beneficial to teaching ("virtual Franco-German classroom") because they foster linguistic and media skills and favour independent learning in a decisive way.
The materials are regularly updated and can be accessed via the internet by teachers and pupils, but also by members of the wider public.
Funding
The project was initiated within the Federal Chancellor's Office and is funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Representative for Culture and Media on behalf of the German government.
Orders
Schools in both countries as well as mediating Franco-German organisations may,
on request, order a free CD-ROM version of the materials (not including links to the internet) as a class set.
Logo
The logo is based on Tomi Ungerer's drawing called "Friendship". We thank Mr Ungerer for granting permission to use the logo.
Contact
Prof. Alfred Pletsch, Project Chair
Email: send
Roderich HenrĂż
Main Building Office E 2.14
Tel.: +49 (0)531 590 99 57