What does it feel like to be a recent graduate of the teaching degree program?
Julia Wolfinger: It feels great! Especially after having invested so much time preparing for exams during the weeks prior to the Master’s exam, it's even nicer to enjoy more free time right now.

What made you decide to become a teacher?
Julia Wolfinger: I decided pursue a teaching degree and become and educator as when I was at school, I tutored fellow classmates in math and I truly enjoyed explaining things. At the AHS school I attended, I also had a great math teacher who was very encouraging. I chose to study mathematics and I hope to get students excited about math and help them not get nervous or anxious when learning the material during class.

The JKU offers the Bachelor's degree program in secondary education (general education) together with universities in Upper Austria and Salzburg, opens an external URL in a new window. What is everyday student life really like?
Julia Wolfinger: Choosing my subject areas meant I studied mainly at the JKU and at the University of Education in Upper Austria. I attended both institutions, trying to complete as many courses as possible at the JKU because I was also working at JKU. It was much easier to go between the office and classes. Some classes offered the opportunity to work as part of several different groups, both at the University of Education and the JKU, so you have organizational options. In order to get ahead in a few PP subjects, I also completed distance learning classes offered in Salzburg.

How was the student teaching part of the program?
Julia Wolfinger: The hands-on approach is great. During the undergraduate degree program, students have to complete six different student teaching internships. During the internships, you first observe and then later you teach the class yourself. As you progress in the program, the more classes you teach. Students also have to complete the graduate internship during the Master's degree program. The advantage there is that you get to teach a lot of class sessions so, for example, I taught a certain class for a whole month. I not only got to know the students better, I got to plan and teach an entire subject area myself.

Would you recommend the program to others? If so, why?
Julia Wolfinger: Yes, I would definitely recommend the program and I love that program is so multifaceted. You choose two subject areas to focus on (the areas you want to teach in the future) and attend both subject-specific and didactic classes. The program also includes educational science in which, for example, provides support when completing the student teaching requirements.

What are your plans now?
Julia Wolfinger: I was a project assistant at the Department of STEM Didactics during my undergraduate studies and I really enjoy it so after earning a Master’s, I will stay on at the JKU. I have been a university assistant at the Department of STEM Didactics since March and will now focus on research and earn a doctorate degree.

When you look at your future as an educator, what do you consider to be opportunities and/or challenges?
Julia Wolfinger: I consider digitization at schools to be a great opportunity. The fact that so many students at lower secondary schools now have devices opens up countless new educational opportunities. We can better digitally explore content, especially during math class, because we can dynamically change objects.
The first few years of being a teacher can be challenging. During the student teaching sessions, I focused more on education but in practice, there are so many other things to do in addition to teaching that part of a teacher’s everyday life. The program cannot prepare you enough for things like talking with parents, grading, settling social conflicts in class, etc.

About Julia Wolfinger

Age: 27
Current place of residence: Katsdorf
Born in: Linz
Majors (subject area combination): Mathematics, Psychology, and Philosophy (secondary education)
Hobbies: Hiking, mountain biking