| Erfurt Laboratory for Empirical Research, Erziehungswissenschaftliche Fakultät, SPF Bildung. Schule. Verhalten., Forschung

School trip days to the University of Erfurt: The KEEP Panel Thuringia starts its first round

The research project "Cognitive development of decision-making competence and social participation" (KEEP-Panel Thuringia) at the University of Erfurt, which is funded by the Free State of Thuringia with around 397,000 euros, has started the first round of the survey. In the process, more than 400 first-graders took their first school field trip to the university campus. The school field trip days took place during the first four weeks of school and were entirely devoted to the motto: play, fun and getting to know each other.

Child playing one of the games as part of the KEEP panel.
The children's journey through the research games - always accompanied by the little monster Lilo, whose greatest treasure is to play with the children.

The first-year students from 21 Erfurt school classes had the opportunity to gain shared experience and grow together as a group. Activities ranged from campus treasure hunts, crafts and soccer to giant soap bubbles that floated across campus. As a highlight, the kids often raved about visiting the cafeteria - eating lunch just like "real" students. At the end of the excursion day, the children were unanimous: Yes! They definitely want to come back to the University of Erfurt in the next few years.

And that is indeed planned. The long-term goal of the research project is to study the development of decision-making competence. To this end, the excursions were designed for an annual visit by the children and participation in research games was embedded in the excursion days. By following the "panel children" throughout their primary school years, the research team led by Professor Tilmann Betsch aims to find out how the ability to make good decisions develops and what factors influence this. The results of the project will not only advance basic research in this area, but also provide implications for practice - for a field with high social relevance. After all, being able to make good decisions not only influences our daily lives, but is also the basis of social participation in a complex, constantly changing democratic society. In her doctoral project linked to the KEEP panel, for example, Lena Breuer wants to strengthen children's ability to use information from the media in a reflective way to make decisions.

In addition to the enthusiastic schoolchildren, 35 students from the University of Erfurt also contributed to the success of the first round of the survey. Under the direction of Dr Stefanie Lindow, they formed the survey team that conducted the field trip days. Professor Tilmann Betsch: "A big thank you also goes to the parents, dedicated teachers and schools who supported the research project. Many thanks to the Primary schools am Johannesplatz, Europa-Schule, Moritzschule, Christian-Reichart-Schule, Puschkinschule, Primary school Gispersleben, Primary school Am Kleinen Herrenberg and Primary school Vieselbach."