Personal profile (generic)

Focus of work

- Interconnection of chemical contents in the teacher training program
- Eye tracking - analysis and evaluation of teaching-learning processes
- Interconnection of the chemical and technical perspectives in general science education in primary schools

Short CV

12/2024Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), topic of the thesis: "On the interconnection of chemical content in teacher training"  
Since 10/2023Instructor in the didactics of technology  
10/2022 - 09/2023Instructor at the FB 10 Institute of Chemistry  
Since 01/2019Research assistant in the working group "Didactics of Chemistry" at the University of Kassel  
2017 - 2019Student assistant in the didactics of chemistry at the University of Kassel  
2015 - 2023Member of Science Bridge e.V.  
2011 - 2018Study of chemistry and biology for the teaching profession at secondary schools at the University of Kassel  
2010A levels  

 

Publications

May, M. (2026). Concept maps – an effective tool to help chemistry students to interconnect chemical topics? Pedagogies: An International Journal, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554480X.2026.2693678

Birkenstock, M. (2025). Zur Vernetzung chemischer Fachinhalte im Lehramtsstudium. https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-2024121810778

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2023) “Using Concept Maps to Support Prospective Chemistry Teachers in Interconnecting Chemical Contents.” American Journal of Educational Research, vol. 11, no. 6 (2023): 364-371. doi:10.12691/education-11-6-4.

Talks and posters

May, M. (2026, Januar) Crossing boundaries in teacher education: A joint seminar for elementary and
secondary school candidates. HI Education. Honolulu. Posterbeitrag.

May, M. (2025, Dezember) A case study report: the effect of using a concept map on interconnecting
chemistry content in teacher education. Pacifichem. Honolulu. Vortrag.

May, M. (2025, Dezember) Interconnecting chemical and technical perspectives in primary school
through the use of VR environments. Pacifichem. Honolulu. Posterbeitrag.

May, M. (2025, September) Perspektivenvernetzung durch VR in der Grundschule. GDCP. Frankfurt am Main. Posterbeitrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2024) Visualizing of interconnections of chemical contents using concept maps – A helpful tool for chemistry teacher students? ICCE. Pattaya. Posterbeitrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2024) Concept Maps. An effective tool to help chemistry students to interconnect chemical topics? ISEC. Singapore. Posterbeitrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2023) Vernetzung chemischer Fachinhalte mit Hilfe von Concept Maps. GDCh - Wissenschaftsforum Chemie. Leipzig. Vortrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2022) Einfluss von Concept Maps auf das Vernetzungsverständnis in der Chemie. GDCP Jahrestagung. Aachen. Vortrag (Symposium).

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2022) Connecting chemical topics in teacher training. ASERA. Perth. Posterbeitrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2022) Interconnectedness of chemical topics in teacher training studies. ICCE. Kapstadt. Vortrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2022) The interconnectedness of chemical contents – a challenge for teacher training. NARST. Vancouver. Posterbeitrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2021) The interconnectedness of chemical topics in teacher training studies. Pacifichem. Honolulu. Vortrag.

Birkenstock, M., Di Fuccia, D.-S. (2019) Vernetzung chemischer Fachinhalte im Lehramtsstudium. GDCh-Wissenschaftsforum Chemie. Aachen. Posterbeitrag.