Katharina Gaida

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Image: Atena Emadi

Research assistant and doctoral candidate in the field of Protestant Religious Education

Contact

University of Kassel

Institute for Protestant Theology - FB 02

34109 Kassel (postal address)

34127 Kassel (Visitor address)

 

E-mail: katharina.gaida[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Phone: +49 561 8043-489

Office hours

By appointment by e-mail.
Contact person within the study profile Interreligious Competences. The study profile is offered in cooperation with the Catholic Institute.

Office hours: More Infos


"I become at the You; I becoming I speak You. All real life is encounter." 1

The words of the Jewish religious philosopher Martin Buber are seminal to the basic approach of interreligious learning. This is a cross-cutting issue, often underestimated, yet so important to society, schools, classrooms, and the self. 

The focus of my teaching and research is on interreligious and intercultural learning. The exchange about the contents together with the students and the co-teaching partners is valuable and indispensable. I am very grateful for this, because it means that new educational formats, such as workshop series, further training, excursions, etc., are constantly being developed. 

Interreligious competencies have become a necessary basic competence in schools, both for students and teachers as well as for all other participants who make learning processes successful. Especially in university education we can make an important contribution to this.

In this sense, I am looking forward to many educational formats that are rich in experience, joyful and efficient!


Best regards
Katharina Gaida

1(Buber, p. 17, 2017, 17th ed.)

Academic career

  • Since 2020 Research assistant at the Institute for Protestant Theology at the University of Kassel in the field of religious education

  • 2018 - 2020 Lecturer for special tasks at the Institute for Protestant Theology at the University of Kassel in the field of religious education
  • 2018 Student assistant at the Institute for Protestant Theology at the University of Kassel in the field of religious education
  • 2016 - 2017 Student assistant at the Institute for Educational Sciences at the University of Kassel in the field of primary school education
  • 2014 - 2018 Studies of German, Mathematics and Protestant Theology for the teaching profession at elementary school at the University of Kassel

Academic self-administration

  • Since 2022: Contact person for the study profile "Interreligious Competencies"

  • Since 2019: Representative of the interests of the mid-level academic staff at Protestant theology faculties and institutes of Protestant theology in Germany 

Further training

  • Completed training as a communications trainer/communications consultant (Central German Institute for Continuing Education) since 02/2022

Stays abroad

  • 04/2024 - 05/2024: Work shadowing at the University of Vienna (Catholic Faculty: Practical Theology, Islamic Theology: Islamic Religious Education)
  • 02/2022 - 03/2022: Work-Shadowing at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Catholic Faculty: Practical Theology,
    Systematic Theology, Religious Studies, Master's and Doctoral Program Religious Studies, Center Theology Intercultural and Study of Religions)
  • 03/2020 - 03/2020: English and International Communication Skills for Tertiary Education, Executive Training Institute, Malta
  • 08/2019 - 09/2019: Oaklands Primary School, Hanwell, Ealing, London, U.K. Work shadowing especially with regard to the teaching subject Religious Education

The CV in English is available. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

Memberships

  • Since 2021: Membership of the European Society of Women in Theological Research (ESWTR)
  • Since 2021: Member of the Society for Scientific Religious Education e.V.
  • Since 2020: Co-organizer of the Kassel Trialogue Day

Funding partnerships

  • 2019 - 2023, annually: QSL funds: FB02, Humanities and Cultural Studies
  • 2019/2020: QPL funds: Coordination office for Service Learning and social engagement at the University of Kassel
  • 03/2019: QSL funds: Family Welcome and Dual Career Service
  • 01/2019: Competition of the special fund "Structural Equal Opportunities"
  • Interreligious learning in educational contexts
  • Dealing with religious and cultural diversity in the school context
  • Developing interreligious and intercultural skills
  • Empirical research in religious education (qualitative)
  • Religion and ethics
  • Dissertation project: Promoting the ability to empathize and change perspectives in interreligious encounters in primary school children - A qualitative-empirical study of the university education programme "Children's Academy - World Religions in Dialogue"

Textbooks and textbook materials

  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2023): Spuren lesen 1/2 Schülerbuch - Edition 2023 for elementary school. Edited by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann.
  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2023): Spuren lesen 1/2 workbook - 2023 edition for elementary school. Edited by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann.
  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2023): Spuren lesen 1/2 Handreichung für Lehrkräfte - Edition 2023 for elementary school. Prepared by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann.
  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2023): Spuren lesen 1/2 picture cards - 2023 edition for elementary school. Edited by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann.

 

Articles in journals and anthologies

  • Elementary school religion. A warm welcome. On hospitality in the religions, in: Schmitt, C. (ed.), Vielfalt leben, 2023, issue 3, p. X - X (expected publication in fall 2023)
  • Religion 5 - 10. What to look out for when dealing with the Torah, Bible and Koran? - Do's and Dont's when dealing with the Holy Scriptures, in: Kaloudis, A. / Neebe, G. (ed.), Heilige Schriften, 2023, issue no. 51, p. 20 - 23
  • "And how is that with you?" A practice-oriented seminar on interreligious learning in a cooperation between the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life and the University of Kassel, in: Sara Nussbaum Center (ed.), Haskala Magazine, 2023, p. 10 - 11
  • Change of perspective - empathy - language sensitivity. Empathic and language-sensitive speaking as a central competence of interreligious teaching and learning, in: Massud, Abdel-Hafiez / Hild, Christian (eds.), Religionslehrer*innen als Akteure in der multireligiösen, (RKBG), 2022, 2nd year, vol. 2, (pp. 77-99) (together with Christian Espelage, Katharina Gaida, Rebecca Niehoff & Annegret Reese-Schnitker)
  • The "Children's Academy - World Religions in Dialogue" at the University of Kassel, in: Espelage, Christian, Mohagheghi, Hamideh & Schober, Michael (ed.), Interreligious Opening through Encounter. Grundlagen - Erfahrungen -  Perspektiven im Kontext des christlich-islamischen Dialogs, 2021, pp. 329-337 (available at doi.org)
  • Gaida, K. (2021). Children's Academy - World religions in dialog. An educational and vacation program for children. Engagiert studiert. 10 years of service learning at the University of Kassel. Anniversary brochure with 17 exemplary courses. p. 22 & 23 (available at www.uni-kassel.de)

Projects

  • Since 11/2023: Contact person for the teacher training course "Interreligious learning through encounters - A didactics of world views" 2023/2024 in Essen (together with Prof. Dr. Katja Boehme, Jun. Prof. Dr. Manuel Lorenz and Dr. Darjusch Bartsch)

Project support at schools

  • Since 04/2023: Religious education support and advice at three schools (Sek I) in Kassel on concepts of dialogical learning in pluralistic contexts in RE (together with the RPI Kassel and the diocese of Fulda) 

Lectures

 

  • With the I to the You: The dignity of the child as a religious education approach to respect in interreligious learning in elementary school religious education. Event: Teacher training at the PILGRIM schools. Institute for Religious Education and Diversity, Private University College of Teacher Education Burgenland (Austria). Expected in fall 2024.
  • Glasses of interreligious learning. Event: Ecumenical meeting point for all types of schools. RPI Kassel, 20.08.2024, Kassel.
  • Conflict prevention and conflict resolution strategies in classrooms. Event: Teacher training at the Heidelberg University of Education, 11.06.2024, Heidelberg.
  • "World religions" as a content area in ethics. Event: Study day "Interreligious learning in the subject of ethics at elementary school". Further training for the acquisition of the teaching qualification for elementary school and the teaching qualification for elementary school in the subject of ethics. Hessian Teachers' Academy, 10.06.24, Weilburg.
  • How can interreligious learning succeed in the subject of ethics? - Basics, possibilities and challenges. Event: Study day "Interreligious learning in ethics at elementary school". Further training for the acquisition of the teaching qualification for elementary school and the teaching qualification for elementary school in the subject of ethics. Hessian Teachers' Academy, 01.12.23, Frankfurt a.M.
  • Interreligious learning in religious education - Between one's own and the other, between the known and the unknown. Event: Ecumenical Day of Religious Education. RPI Marburg and the Diocese of Fulda, 21.03.2023, Marburg.

 

Workshops (in selection)

 

2024

  • Interreligious education as a central category in the teacher training program at the University of Kassel. Insights into the "Kinderakademie Weltreligionen im Dialog" and the "Studienprofil Interreligiöse Kompetenz". Conference: Children's and youth theology -  interreligious. University of Bochum, 11.03.2024, Bochum. (together with Prof. Dr. PetraFreudenberger-Lötz, Prof. Dr. Annegret Reese-Schnitker, Julia Drube, Protestant & Catholic Theology, Universityof Kassel)
  • Festivals in the religions - Basics, teaching material, potentials and stumbling blocks. Event: Teacher training as part of religious education support and counseling in schools. RPI Kassel, 14.02.2024, Kassel. (together with Anke Trömper, RPI Kassel)

2023

  • Festivals in the religions - basics, teaching material, potentials and stumbling blocks. Event: Teacher training as part of the religious education support and counseling at schools. RPI Kassel, 20.06.2023, Kassel. (together with Anke Trömper, RPI Kassel)
  • "With hair you somehow look better" - Contents and potential of interreligious competences in the conversation about the headscarf. Event: 7th Religious Education Theological Study Day: Talking about God* in Religious Education?! The potential of classroom discussions. Institute for Catholic Theology, University of Kassel, 15.06.2023, Kassel. (together with Helena Fernys-Adamietz, Institute of Catholic Theology, University of Kassel)
  • Appreciation in interreligious encounters. Event: Study day "Appreciation - not just a topic in religious education". Evangelisches Schulreferat Paderborn and the Department of Religious Education, 23.03.2023, Warburg. (together with Elena Padva, Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life)

2022

  • Strengthening interreligious skills - Learning to (re)understand one's own in the other. Event: Study day on interreligious learning. Association of Committed Muslims Germany. EMD e.V., 19.11.2022, Bochum.
  • Opportunities and challenges of interreligious learning in schools. A keynote speech. Event: Church talk at the Waldau Open School. Offene Schule Waldau, 14.10.2022, Kassel.
  • Appreciative interreligious cooperation in elementary school. Event: Day of religious education teachers "What makes us strong" - Appreciation and encouragement in religious education. Gymnasium Mariano-Josephinum, 22.09.2022, Diocese of Hildesheim. (together with Rokaya Hassan)
  • "Will all people go to heaven?" Dying, death and resurrection in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Basics and methods (grades 4-6). Event: 3-phases of teacher training - dying, death and the Christian hope of resurrection, RPI Kassel 01.07.2022, Kassel.

2021

  • Interreligiosity in the classroom (?) Case studies on the topic of interreligious learning in schools. Event: MELTINGPOT (?) - Interreligious learning through encounter. Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life, 18.11.2021, Kassel. (together with Elena Padva & Viktoria Schneider)
  • We are colorful - we are many! Questions and answers about religions and cultures. Event: Training course in the "Only Human!" training series, in cooperation with the Protestant Youth Kassel and the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life. 04.11.2021, Kassel.
  • Our encounter makes you and me grow - Interreligious dialog with all its strengths and challenges. Event: Association of Committed Muslims Germany. EMD e.V., 13.07.2021, Bochum.
  • Diversity lives in the classroom! - Foundations and methods of interreligious learning in elementary school. Event: Religious education in the context of inclusion. University of Kassel (via Zoom) 26.06.2021, Kassel.

Podcasts

  • Podcast together with Lina Hout about interreligious learning in elementary school, about religious identity and the self. (recorded in 06/21).
  • SoSe 22 & SoSe 24: Interreligious learning. Positions - Encounters -Competences (in cooperation with the Institute of Catholic Theology as part of the study profile "Interreligious Competence for Religious Education")
  • Winter semester 23/24: Introduction to religious education
  • Summer semester 23: Fundamentals of interreligious learning - "Diversity lives in my class!" (in cooperation with the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life)
  • Summer semester 22: "And how is that with you???" Interreligious learning in my classroom (in cooperation with the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life)
  • WiSe 20/21 &  WiSe 21/22: "Diversity lives in my class!" Learning and teaching about and with interreligious education as part of preventative work (in cooperation with the Sara Nussbaum Center for Jewish Life)
  • WiSe 18/19 - WiSe 19/20: Children's Academy - World Religions in Dialogue (practice-oriented project seminar)
  • SoSe 18 - WiSe 19/20: MOSAIK - Interreligious Dialogue (in cooperation with the Muslim University Community of the University of Kassel)

Examples of academic term papers and Master's theses supervised by me (vocational education)

 

2024

  • Children encounter Islam: Interreligious learning based on a selected religious testimony in elementary school
  • Comparative theology in schools - Theory and practice in Protestant religious education

2023

  • Inclusion as a topic in religious education - A religious education teaching unit for grades 3-4
  • Children encounter religions - An analysis of interreligious learning in primary school textbooks
  • Promoting young religious education teachers -
    Conceptual development of a vocational orientation program

2022

  • How can tolerance of ambiguity be promoted through interreligious learning in religious education at vocational schools? What opportunities and challenges arise? (Master's thesis, vocational school pedagogy)
  • Interreligious learning in elementary school. A qualitative study of written results of Protestant religious education in grades 1-3 at Kassel schools
  • Interreligious encounter learning. - Recognizing, reflecting and shaping religious diversity

2021

  • With the I to the You: The dignity of the child as a religious pedagogical approach to respect in interreligious learning in religious education at elementary school
  • Interreligious skills at a glance - Promoting empathy and perspective-taking in teaching materials for religious education at elementary school
  • Interreligious learning as a way of preventing anti-Semitism? - Designing teaching materials for elementary school

2020

  • Religious education in the context of a globalized society. A qualitative study on the future viability of the subject at elementary school.
  • The Hamburg way of dialogical religious education for all - Opportunities and challenges of interreligious learning under pluralistic conditions


Dear students,

please feel free to contact me by e-mail if you have any questions and/or are interested in the supervision of academic assignments.

Videos

Children's Academy: World Religions in Dialogue For more information visit our website! https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb02/institute/evangelische-theologie/fachgebiete/religionspaedagogik/kinderakademie-weltreligionen-im-dialog
(opens enlarged image)Image: Shown is the so-called "living room conversation" (discussion format) in the context of the seminar "Diversity lives in my class, SoSe22", Katharina Gaida in conversation with Yasemin Capraz and Gabi Katz (l.t.r.). Photo rights: Elena Padva
(opens enlarged image)Image: Non-university learning space at the Sara Nussbaum Center as part of the seminar "Diversity Lives in My Class, SoSe22". Photo rights: Felix Werthschulte
(opens enlarged image)Image: As part of the seminar "Children's Academy - World Religions in Dialogue, SoSe 20", the children and the students shared with each other at the end what experiences they were grateful for in this educational program. Photo rights: Atena Emadi
(opens enlarged image)Image: As part of the seminar "Children's Academy - World Religions in Dialogue, WiSe 19/20", the students visited a synagogue together with the participating children. Esther Haß, chairwoman of the board of the Jewish Community Kassel, showed the Torah scrolls. Photo rights: Katharina Gaida
(opens enlarged image)Image: Zoom session as part of the seminar "Interfaith Learning in My Class" (WS 2020/2021). Photo rights: Katharina Gaida
(opens enlarged image)You can see the students of the seminar "Fundamentals of Interreligious Learning" (SoSe23), the seminar leaders (Elena Padva and Katharina Gaida) and our guests Odelya (Ann) Nagar, Ahmed Elshahawy and Johannes Thüne in interreligious conversation in the context of a talk show, which the students have prepared.Image: You can see the students of the seminar "Fundamentals of Interreligious Learning" (SoSe23), the seminar leaders (Elena Padva and Katharina Gaida) and our guests Odelya (Ann) Nagar, Ahmed Elshahawy and Johannes Thüne in an interreligious conversation in the context of a talk show prepared by the students. Photo rights: Jonas Wippermann
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