Further education for teachers
The professionalization of teachers is a lifelong process: they must constantly explore new topics and find innovative solutions to challenges in schools and classrooms.
Further education and training for teachers is therefore systematically linked to the transfer strategy of the University as a whole and, at the same time, is designed as an extracurricular offer for students.
Objectives
- Support for the further education and training of teachers based on subject knowledge and teaching skills
- Ongoing exchange between teachers and students through joint formats
- Faster and more effective mutual learning opportunities between schools and universities
- Creation and use of innovative formats by teachers and students
- Use of international standards to benefit teacher education
Digital teaching and learning
As part of the digiLL university network, the University of Cologne collaborates with eleven other teacher education institutions via the ZfL to promote digital skills and open education in the context of teacher education.
Since 2017, the digiLL.de portal has offered and continuously expanded on OER-licensed teaching and learning materials in media education, subject didactics, and subject-specific modules across universities. The aim is to strengthen the digital skills of students and (prospective) teachers.
Open educational practices and OER are not yet familiar to everyone involved in teacher education, but they offer advantages such as open access to knowledge and the promotion of collaboration and lifelong learning.
The cross-phase project digiLL_COM is a joint operation supported by the entire network and implemented by the universities of Bochum, Duisburg-Essen, and Cologne. It promotes intensive community work with the aim of improving acceptance of open educational practices and their integration in all phases of teacher education.
In Cologne, the zfl-lernen.de portal involves students in the creation and didactic preparation of current research results.
Online distribution via the network makes learning materials quickly and easily accessible to teachers. This accelerates innovation cycles and strengthens the connection between research and school practice.
Supported by:
- Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (digiLL_Com)
Partners (among others):
- RWTH Aachen
- University of Jena
- University of Erfurt
- University of Bochum
- University of Duisburg-Essen
Learn more:
International networking
Integrated into international research and continuing education networks, the University of Cologne’s teacher education programme creates a wide range of learning opportunities for teachers and student teachers, thereby making the profession more attractive.
These initiatives teach important future skills and support teachers and students in finding solutions to current and future challenges. The focus is on education for sustainable development (ESD), digitalization, diversity, and inclusion as well as Well-Being.