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Project duration 01.12.2013 - 30.04.2017

Comprehensive School - Scientific evaluation of the trial phase of "Learning Longer Together" in North Rhine-Westphalia

The research examines the conditions and progression of the establishment of “Gemeinschaftsschulen” (a type of comprehensive school in Germany). This includes school development, educational concepts, organizational and pedagogical implementation, teaching training processes in heterogeneous learning groups, development of student competencies, and psychosocial development.

Project description

Hellblaue, grüne und orangene Figur mit darunterliegenden grünen Schriftzug des Projektnamens Gemeinschaftsschule

The overall objective of the accompanying scientific research is the formative evaluation of the trial phase of "Learning Longer Together". Essential information about the current situation, development criteria, and observations from the founding stages are gathered through surveys given to students, teachers, and school administrators. The results provide insight and essential information, critical to the discussion about school reform in Germany.

As a way of „learning longer together“, Gemeinschaftsschulen (comprehensive schools) are gaining traction in many states. As a result, scientific monitoring of the deployment and development processes is becoming more important. In terms of the school form, an important question that is examined is the relevance of heterogeneity in the classroom. The research not examines processes of the implementation phase, but also the continuing progression and development. Included in the research are the conditions and criteria for the establishment of Gemeinschaftsschulen along with pedagogical and educational approaches. Additionally, fundamental observations from the founding stages are identified.

Lead researcher at IFS

Project management

  • PD Dr. Michael Pfeifer
  • Dr. Franziska Schwabe
  • Dr. Julia Weischenberg (geb. Kahnert)

Project team

  • Kai Averbeck
  • Dr. Svenja J. Hartwig

Publication of the results

Cafeteria menus

Location & approach

The most convenient highway exits are on the B 1/A 40 (Dortmund-Barop) (closer to the North Campus) and on the A45 (Dortmund-Eichlinghofen). The university is signposted at both exits. In the local road network you will find signs to Campus Nord, where the Campus Treff is also located. From Emil-Figge-Strasse, entrance no. 18 and from Vogelspothsweg entrance no. 23 lead to parking spaces near the venue.

From Dortmund main station, take the S-Bahn "S1" in the direction of Solingen on track 7 to the stop "Dortmund-Universität" (price level A). The S-Bahn runs every 15 minutes during peak hours on weekdays and takes about 6 minutes. From Düsseldorf, the S-Bahn runs every 30 minutes. Directly at the S-Bahn station you will find the CDI building, which houses the Center for Research on Education and School Development.

One of the university's landmarks is the H-Bahn, which has two terminuses on the North Campus. One is located directly above the S-Bahn station and is easily accessible from it by elevators. The other is located in the center of Campus North at the bridge between the University Library and the Mensa, right next to the Audimax. The H-Bahn runs from here to the South Campus and the Eichlinghofen district.

Dortmund has an airport connected with some destinations in Central Europe. There are regular flights, for example, to Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, Katowice, Krakow, Leipzig-Halle, London, Munich, Nuremberg, Paris, Poznan, Stuttgart, Vienna and Zurich. For the approximately 20 kilometers from the Dortmund airport to the campus, you can take the bus to the main train station and from there the S-Bahn. Faster is usually the use of a cab. Far more international flight connections are offered by the Rhine-Ruhr Airport in Düsseldorf, about 60 kilometers away, which can be reached directly by S-Bahn from the university station.