Outlook

Researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen will be working steadily to develop new teaching concepts. Based on its findings, “nwu-essen” will identify evidence-based ways of improving instructional practice in science classrooms with lasting results and will make these ideas available to teachers working in schools and further education sectors. Instruments which have proved effective in this context, for example, include regular workshops with teachers (“Teachers’ Day” or “Teachers’ Night”), information in daily newspapers, and articles in professional journals read by teachers.

In addition, the priority research programme makes an important contribution to improvement on the educational system level. Knowledge of how conditions on the system level affect teaching and learning in the classroom will conceivably result in targeted action in the area of school development as well as targeted changes in educational standards and curricula. Similarly, knowledge of what constitutes effective teaching will lead to recommendations for better teacher training and modifications of the curricula and methods used in teacher training.