Research

Projects

Here you will find an overview of the professorship’s current and completed research projects.

 

The testing effect and the complexity of the learning material: The adequacy of the knowledge base as a moderator?

PIs

  • Prof. Dr Judith Schweppe, professorship Teaching with Digital Learning Environments, University of Erfurt
  • Prof. Dr. Ralf Rummer, Department of General Psychology, University of Kassel

Funding

German Research Foundation (DFG)

FOR 5254 Sustainable Learning: Cognitive Mechanisms and Effective Implementation in the Classroom

Project number: 495697878

 

Research Assistant

  • Annika Lenk-Blochowitz

What’s it all about?

The project examines whether, and under what conditions, actively retrieving learning content from long-term memory promotes learning, even when the learning material consists of complex texts.

One example of the use of this learning technique is vocabulary learning, where many people use (virtual) flashcards to practise retrieving what they have learnt from memory. However, questions have been raised as to whether self-testing supports learning with complex material. In a series of field experiments in German lessons at grammar schools, we are investigating this question as well as ways of supporting learners when working with complex texts so that they, too, can benefit from self-testing. The project is part of the research group ‘Sustainable Learning: Cognitive Mechanisms and Effective Implementation in the Classroom’, which focuses on the question of how knowledge must be taught so that it is retained for the long term and can be applied flexibly.

Partners

Professor Markus Pissarek

Other members of the research group: Tobias Richter (speaker), Roland Berger, Rita Borromeo Ferri, Mirjam Ebersbach, Alexander Eitel, Tino Endres, Martin Hänze, Andreas Lachner, Detlev Leutner, Frank Lipowsky, Alexander Renkl, Julian Roelle, Katharina Scheiter, Claudia von Aufschnaiter, Andreas Vorholzer

The project is part of the research group “Sustainable Learning: Cognitive Mechanisms and Effective Implementation in the Classroom” (FOR 5254).

Further information

Open Science

The professorship for Teaching with Digital Learning Environments advocates for open and transparent scholarship in both research and teaching. In our work, we consistently apply the principles of Open Science by

  • pre-registering new studies
  • replicating studies
  • storing and publishing datasets in data archives
  • making research and test materials available

In addition, we are involved in other Open Science activities, for example: