German lecturer Dr. Bär inspires with an innovative teaching concept!

German lecturer Dr. Bär inspires with an innovative teaching concept!

Dr. Christina Bär, a committed German lecturer at the Heidelberg University of Education, recently obtained the “Baden-Württemberg Certificate for University Didactics”. The ceremonial handover took place in mid-February under the direction of Rector Prof. Dr. Karin Vach. This certificate is part of a multi-stage program that is intended to strengthen the didactic skills of teachers at universities in Baden-Württemberg. The university itself is a member of the University Didactics Center Baden-Württemberg (HDZ).

The certificate includes three modules that deal with basic and in-depth topics in university didactics. The modules are structured as follows:

• Grundlagen der Hochschuldidaktik
• Vertiefung in hochschuldidaktischen Themenbereichen
• Individuelle Schwerpunktsetzung

Particularly appreciated by Dr. Bär the wide range of topics, which ranges from “methods in teaching” to “competence-oriented testing” and “digital teaching and learning”. A central element of her studies was the development of a new seminar concept for digital teaching and learning, which focuses on the innovative method of the “inverted classroom”. This form of teaching enables students to develop content through self-study in order to use the face-to-face sessions for in-depth application and discussion of what they have learned.

Inverted classroom and its implementation

The concept of the “Inverted Classroom” was developed by Dr. Bear from the collaboration with Prof. Dr. Christian Spannagel, who successfully uses this method in mathematics. This new concept is already being implemented as part of the “Linguistic Basics of German Teaching” event. Here, teaching content is not only alternated, but learners are also involved in the active production and application of knowledge.

In the context of the “Inverted Classroom”, teachers and learners have the opportunity to reflect on the roles in the teaching-learning scenario and to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this method. This reflection is supported by targeted exercises in face-to-face events that promote the exchange of experiences and tips for successful implementation.

Further training offers at the HDZ

The Baden-Württemberg University Didactics Center will continue to offer numerous workshops in 2025 that are intended to further develop the didactic skills of teachers. Over 150 workshops on various university didactic topics are available, both online and in face-to-face formats. At least two workshops take place at PH Heidelberg each year, which can be credited towards the Baden-Württemberg certificate. These events provide comprehensive support for anyone who wants to adapt and become more innovative in their teaching methods.

Overall, the successful qualification of Dr. Christina Bär, how important continuous training is in higher education. It is a sign of the commitment to further development and the introduction of new teaching methods that are tailored to the needs of students, which is particularly important in today's digital learning environment.

For further information about the innovative concepts and offers in the field of university didactics, please visit the websites PH Heidelberg, University didactics and University didactics white paper.