12 - Germany - Teaching methods

Teaching methods at universities

Classes take the form of lectures, seminars, practical exercises, work placements and study trips. The main function of the lectures is to impart general and basic knowledge about the various fields of study. The seminars afford an opportunity to deal in depth with a more narrowly defined topic. Practical exercises and practicals, meanwhile, provide the opportunity to develop the theoretical knowledge gained in a practical manner. The Federation and Länder are promoting the use of new media (multimedia and teleteaching) in the teaching offered. In addition to the numerous programmes of the Länder, since 2000 and as part of the New Media in Education ( Neue Medien in der Bildung) programme, the Federation has been promoting joint projects for the use of new media in higher education institutions. From 2004 to 2007, the Federation is also promoting eLearning Services for Science ( eLearning-Dienste für die Wissenschaft), which shall give the institutions of higher education the opportunity to make greater and more professional use of new media for teaching, learning and examinations. The institutions of higher education are developing, generally within the scope of three-year projects, multimedia teaching and learning forms for on-site learning and self-study, as well as distance study offers or new combinations of on-site teaching with self-study and distance-study components.

The classes are normally designed for students of a specific degree course and at a particular stage in their studies. However, interdisciplinary classes have been gaining in significance, especially in the more advanced stages. So-called Graduiertenkollegs (providing university graduate training programmes) for the promotion of young scholars, for instance, are also frequently organised along interdisciplinary lines.

Teaching methods at colleges of art and music

One distinctive feature of studying at a college of art or music is that artistic instruction is given one on one or in small groups closely supervised by a member of the teaching staff.

Teaching methods at Fachhochschulen

Particular characteristics of courses of study at Fachhochschulen include practice-oriented training and a variety of teaching forms including lectures, seminars, practical exercises, work placements and study trips in small groups. The seminars afford an opportunity to deal in depth with a more narrowly defined topic, whilst practical classes and work placements enable the theoretical knowledge to be consolidated in a practical context. A further special feature of courses of studies at Fachhochschulenis the integration into the course of one or two Praxissemester (semesters of work experience). The Fachhochschulelays down the rules for and content of these training periods, supervises them and provides parallel classes. They are spent in a company or in another place of work for a duration of at least 20 weeks.

The principle of teaching small groups creates close contacts between teaching staff and students and enables students to interact in the class. For the use of new media (multimedia and teleteaching) and for the promotion of numerous projects in the teaching offered by higher education institutions.

Teaching methods at establishments outside the higher education system – Berufsakademien, Fachschulen

A characteristic feature of training at a Berufsakademie is the division of each semester into on-the-job training and a theoretical part of the course at the study institution that lasts between ten and 12 weeks. During the theoretical part of the course, as a rule, students are taught in small groups. In addition to lectures and seminars, active teaching methods like role play, experimental games or case studies are applied.

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