Digital skills for teachers: Need for action in Germany!

Digital skills for teachers: Need for action in Germany!

On August 7, 2025, an important player in design education, Markus Perl, will retire. Since it started in 2004 at the University of Vechta Perl has made a significant contribution to the development and teaching of design education.

Perl started his career at the university by introducing machine certificates for design students. Over the course of his work, which was crowned by taking on a permanent position in 2016, his area of ​​responsibility expanded significantly. He took on responsibility in areas such as 3D printing, wood turning and the use of laser cutters. As a security officer and active in the faculty council, he is also committed to security and organization within the university.

A life for design education

A central aspect of Perl's commitment was his involvement in the Competence Center for Regional Teacher Training, where he has supported over 40 events in the school subject of creative work since 2015. The highlights of his career include converting an American school bus into the Mokulab, which serves as a creative learning space, as well as the annual summer academy for children and field trips with students.

Perl leaves the university with a positive reflection on his time and the many motivated students with whom he was able to work. In his teaching, he always placed emphasis on teaching students practical skills and the joy of design.

Digital skills in education

While the discussion about digital skills in education is becoming increasingly important, it is evident that numerous teachers, such as teachers Roland Mevißen and Alexandra Galyschew, are intensively addressing the question of what young people need in order to participate in a digitally influenced society. Both work as lecturers at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen and are actively working on integrating digital skills into teaching. They emphasize the need for regular exchange at various events.

This digital competence is also in the strategy of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs “Education in the digital world” formulated. The following skills are particularly important for teachers: searching, processing, communicating, producing, presenting and problem solving. The use of digital media in the classroom is crucial for promoting skills among students.

The ICILS 2018 study reveals that the digital skills of teachers in Germany are below average in an international comparison. This gap is particularly pronounced among teacher training students, who have the lowest scores at the beginning of their training. Teacher training includes several phases in which digital media must be integrated into the standards.

An active exchange among teachers, including in informal formats such as the Twitter teacher's lounge, could increase motivation to use digital media. The Corona period has further strengthened this trend and shows the need for cultural change in the educational landscape.

Markus Perl will leave the academic world behind to work with animals on his farm in Winkelsett. However, it is not excluded that he will continue to work as a lecturer in design education in order to pass on his valuable experiences and knowledge to future generations.