The first SPP 1646 summer school "Educational Trajectories and Competence Development – Theoretical Concepts and Methodological Implementations" promoted young researchers connected to the DFG Priority Programme 1646 “Education as a Lifelong Process – Analyzing Data of the National Educational Panel Study” by strengthening their theoretical and methodological skills in educational research.
The summer school consisted of a two-week program with varied teaching and learning formats.
During the first two days the young researchers were introduced into the most recent data releases of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), with a special focus on the competence data. The official summer school program started on Wednesday, September 18, with a keynote speech on “Education Across the Life Course: Trends and Comparisons” by Claudia Buchmann (The Ohio State University). Each day set either a theoretical or a methodological focus on a certain topic relevant for educational researchers. In the mornings of the five “Theories Days”, the participants were offered theoretical lectures on different topics of educational research hold by leading researchers from different disciplines (sociology, economy, educational research). In the afternoons, these experts organized discussion sessions in which the research papers submitted by the summer school participants were extensively discussed. Research papers as well as the summer school presentations are available for download below (you have to log in first).
During the three “Methods days” the summer school participants were offered introductory as well as advanced topics in quantitative methods for the analysis of educational processes in the form of lectures combined with practical data workshops. The last day of the summer school, September 27, was a “Combined Day” combining a “Methods Module” on “Missing Answers in Competence Tests” with a “Substantive Module” on “Foreign language learning in German classrooms”.
The summer school program was supplemented by various social events. On September 18, the welcome reception took place. On September 19, 23, 25 and 27, participants were invited to joint dinners, giving them the opportunity to get in touch with each other as well as with the invited experts in an informal setting. Finally, on September 20, participants had the opportunity to join a guided city tour through Bamberg.
In total, 15 international experts contributed to the summer school and discussed 31 research papers submitted by the 53 summer school participants.