Framework and Objectives

Accelerated and comprehensive changes in society, brought about by new developments in information and communication technology and a globalised economy, have presented the science of researching and teaching didactic methods with new challenges. This phenomenal increase in volume and rapid changes in the relevance of knowledge bases has lead to entrenched scientific conclusions becoming obsolete. New concepts are desperately required to ensure successful, life-long learning approaches.

In active consideration of these circumstances, the Institute for Didactic Research and Teacher Education (Zentralinstitut für didaktische Forschung und Lehre - ZdFL):

• Promotes fruitful collaboration of staff in the education, psychology, sociology, and didactics departments, as well as various subject didactics departments within the University of Augsburg in the administration, oversight, and development of teacher education.

• Supports efforts that intensify the scientific dialogue between education, psychology, sociology, and subject didactics.

• Serves to initiate and develop collaborative research projects and new forms of teaching and learning for schools, university, further education and other educational institutions.

• Advances the implementation of research findings in teaching didactics – especially research with innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.

• Endeavours to realize reforms in teacher training as well as in the continuing education of teachers.