Opening of the learning workshop: A new path for primary school education!

Opening of the learning workshop: A new path for primary school education!

On July 3, 2025, the Grundschul.BASE learning workshop was ceremoniously opened on the ground floor of the M building of the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education. The target group of the new facility are students, teachers and those involved in teaching, research and school practice in primary education. The learning workshop is intended to offer a platform for science-led communication and cooperation with schools and teacher training institutions. Numerous guests were present at the opening, including representatives of the Center for School Quality and Teacher Training, various seminars and primary schools in the region as well as members of the primary school association and regional educators.

The learning workshop aims to create an innovative learning environment that is characterized by rich materials and a well-thought-out spatial concept. These include aesthetically diverse picture books and materials for school practice, Montessori materials and a picture book theater. Particular attention is paid to the work corners, which are designed for different formats. These include the areas BLICK.Schule, in which teachers present concepts or elements of their school work, and TREFF.Schule, which enables students in the practical semester to receive advice from experienced fellow students.

Workshops and further training offers

The learning workshop also offers workshops on topics such as promoting democracy and dealing with artificial intelligence in primary schools. These workshops are part of a comprehensive strategy that aims to support the theory-practice transfer through primary school pedagogical and literary didactic accompanying research. The event was introduced musically by Melike Tekiroglu and Elaine Lampart, who presented a canon by Johann Pachelbel.

During the greetings from Prof. Dr. Damaris Knapp, the initiator, and Prof. Dr. Sabla-Dimitrov, the rector, emphasized the concept of the learning workshop as a connection between theory and practice. The opening lecture by Prof. Dr. Sandra Dancer from Erfurt discussed her experiences with university learning workshops, which are seen as central elements of modern teacher training.

University learning workshops as an educational format

University learning workshops are defined by their structural and spatial anchoring at universities, as by lernwerkstatt.info explained. They are characterized by flexible material and conceptual equipment. The aim is to professionalize prospective educators by allowing them to gain experience in an open learning setting. Learning companions largely avoid direct instructions in order to challenge students' initiative and promote their independence.

The Grundschul.BASE learning workshop enables students to experience themselves as learners and to practice the role of learning companions. Learning processes are promoted more intensively by dealing with a wide range of materials, which are provided both analogue and digitally. Such learning environments are a prerequisite for self-determined and organized learning and are in line with the principles of democratic and inclusive learning.

The planned expansion of the learning workshop includes increased collaboration between different departments as well as regional networking. The aim is to increase the visibility of primary school teacher training and thus improve the quality of teacher training in the region. A dedicated core team of experienced players, including Prof. Dr. Damaris Knapp and Dr. Mirelle Schied is behind this initiative and is committed to optimal support for students.

Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education and lernwerkstatt.info are significantly involved in this development. The initiatives show how constructive learning spaces can redesign teacher training.