• Eleven sites sign partnerships with local schools
• Continental sponsors science and technology kits for general science classes

Hanover, March 28, 2011. International automotive supplier Continental formed 31 educational partnerships with local elementary schools. At nine events in Germany and Romania, eleven sites officially confirmed their commitment to promoting young talent and education in the subjects of mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology [MINT]. With the technical and scientific projects, "KiTec – Kinder entdecken Technik" [Kids Discover Technology] and "NaWi – geht das?" [Science – How Does That Work?], Continental is sponsoring the schools with science or technology kits and expertise.

"At the elementary school level, the natural sciences and technology are often taught in a way that has little to do with real life and is not really very exciting. We want to change that with NaWi and KiTec. Elementary school children are in a formative phase, so it is a good time to introduce these subjects to them. In this way, we awaken their natural curiosity, thus arousing their enthusiasm early on. At the same time, teachers also benefit from the support provided, as the materials can easily be integrated into lessons and fit into the curriculum," explains Continental's Executive Board member for Human Resources, Heinz-Gerhard Wente. 

The experiment kits are intended to arouse the interest of elementary school kids in science and technology subjects, while encouraging girls and boys to develop a positive awareness for their own abilities. Another key goal is to promote teamwork and social skills. At the same time, creativity and independence are required. KiTec's tasks encompass a wide range of technical areas, from statics, power transmission and friction to electric circuits. NaWi provides explanations for everyday phenomena in chemistry and physics experiments.

NaWi and KiTec, which were commissioned by Wissensfabrik [Knowledge Factory], were developed by the University of Frankfurt/Main's Institute for the Teaching of Chemistry, and the Transfer Center for Neurosciences and Learning [ZNL] in Ulm together with the Technology and Didactics faculty at the University of Dortmund. Experiments carried out in NaWi investigate the areas of water, air and food. KiTec comprises the fields of structural, vehicle and electrical technology. Before the project gets underway, teachers are given a comprehensive manual and are trained by company representatives, who are first familiarized with the experiment kits by experts from the Institute for the Teaching of Chemistry of the University of Frankfurt/Main, ZNL and the University of Dortmund.

The Continental sites in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Hannoversch Münden, Karben, Korbach, Northeim, Nürnberg, Regensburg and Waltershausen in Germany and Carei in Romania are involved in the pilot project. The project is being carried out in close cooperation with Wissensfabrik, a pool of more than 70 companies and foundations with the goal of promoting education at the pre-school and elementary-school levels in Germany. Continental has been a member of the Knowledge Factory since June 2010.