Training series

In our increasingly digitized world, the inner workings of the digital media we use every day are becoming harder and harder for most people to understand. Computer science is often perceived as a very complex subject that only a few people can grasp. But it doesn’t have to be that way! As part of this professional development course, you’ll therefore explore initial, hands-on, and fun approaches to computer science, build your own computer science skills, develop ideas for fostering a computational mindset in elementary school students, and take away concrete concepts for use in your daily (subject) classes.

No prior knowledge of computer science or experience with digital media is required.

Participants will learn about various approaches to basic computer science education, gain knowledge about these different approaches, and improve their skills in teaching introductory computer science content as part of elementary school general studies.

Methodological Structure: Input sessions, hands-on testing of different approaches, discussion of possible lesson plans, and reflection on the practical implementation of the concepts covered during the training.

• Instructor: Marc Heinemann
• Instructor: Marc Heinemann
• Location: Zoom and in-person (blended learning)
• Cost: Free
• Dates: TBA

Digital media shape the lives of children and adolescents—and are thereby also changing the culture of teaching. This seminar takes a critical yet constructive look at this development and explores how digital media can support religious and religion-related learning processes in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and effective.

The focus is on the “Diklusion” approach, which integrates digital media and inclusion. Based on a broad understanding of inclusion (one that encompasses all learners), the seminar explores how digital tools can help accommodate different learning needs, language proficiency levels, and forms of expression without compromising religious education.
The focus is not on purely digital religious education, but rather on the reflective and pedagogically responsible use of media.

The seminar combines theoretical foundations (digital literacy, inclusion, exclusion) with practical experimentation, including an excursion to the Kassel Media Center (tentatively scheduled for April 23, 2026) and the development of your own digitally inclusive lesson ideas for religious education (which I would very much like to test with you in the classroom).

Designed as a research workshop, the seminar creates a space for curiosity, openness, creativity, and collaborative experimentation in a field of religious education that has thus far been largely unexplored.

The professional development program takes place as part of a regular university seminar, for which students also register. Needless to say, students do not have the same wealth of experience as seasoned teachers. However, I am firmly convinced that both teachers and students can inspire one another and shed light on new perspectives, so that both groups benefit.

With this in mind, I am very much looking forward to meeting you!

• Instructor: Dr. Katharina Gaida
• Speakers: Dr. Katharina Gaida
• Dates: TBA

• Location: University of Kassel, Campus Center

The training series is aimed at tandems of subject teachers and support teachers (support teachers).

Participants learn methods and strategies for implementing cooperative teaching methods that promote learning in heterogeneous school classes.
The participating tandems work together to create the conditions for implementing cooperative learning for learners with social-emotional support needs.
The participating tandems deal with the basics of efficient cooperation between special needs teachers and subject teachers with the aim of improving the quality of teaching. Participants reflect on the implementation of multi-professional cooperation and cooperative teaching methods and adapt these to their own specific requirements.

Joint registration of the tandem partners is desirable.
The training series is scientifically monitored as part of the KleVer research project at the University of Kassel. One of the aims of the monitoring is to continuously adapt the training program to the individual needs of the participating tandems.

Participation is free of charge thanks to project funding. Catering will be provided during the event.

• Management: Prof. Dr. Natalie Fischer, Prof. Dr. Susanne Jurkowski, Prof. Dr. Timo Lüke
• Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Natalie Fischer, Prof. Dr. Susanne Jurkowski, Prof. Dr. Timo Lüke, Dr. Katrin Gabriel-Busse, Robin Gleim, Felix Piegsda, N.N.
• Location: Online and in presence
• Costs: Free of charge
• Registration until 17.05.2026
• Time frame: 4 training groups with tandems of subject teacher and support teacher, 6 modules (2 modules of approx. 4h each, 4 modules of approx. 3h each) spread over the entire school year 26/27
• Dates: 6 dates in the 2026/2027 school year
• To register for the training series
• More about the project

Since 1984, the Breitenau Memorial has been located on the historic site of a Prussian workhouse, which housed an early concentration camp and a "labor education camp" (AEL) during the Nazi era. Breitenau was the central place of persecution and imprisonment for the town and administrative district of Kassel. Among the approximately 10,000 prisoners between 1933 and 1945 were almost all groups persecuted by the National Socialists, including, according to current knowledge, 186 Jews.

Using sources from the archives of the Breitenau Memorial, it is possible to reconstruct individual biographies of Jewish victims of persecution and those imprisoned in Breitenau (1933-1945) and to identify and examine various forms and effects of anti-Semitism.

After an introductory lecture, participants will examine individual life stories and forms of anti-Semitism on the basis of the sources. They will recognize the different linguistic formulations and everyday actions in which anti-Semitic attitudes were expressed, how these were experienced by the Jewish persecutees and what consequences they had for the people. In addition, the specific examples will show which forms of anti-Semitism influenced the decisions of those in power. In a concluding work phase, approaches for didactically dealing with the knowledge gained will be discussed.

• Chair: Professor Dr. Christine Pflüger, University of Kassel and Dr. Ann Katrin Düben, Breitenau Memorial Site
• Speakers: N.N.
• Date: 25.09./26.09.2026
• Location: Breitenau Memorial
• Registration until until 01.09.2026