Commissioned by:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg(www.mbjs.brandenburg.de)
Landeskooperationsstelle Schule-Jugendhilfe im Land Brandenburg
(www.kobranet.de)

Project leader:
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)
Prof. Dr Wilfried Schubarth (University of Potsdam)

Duration:
06/2007 - 01/2008

Research assistant:
Nicole Vogel

Student assistant:
Susanne Hamann

Project description:
The diversity and dynamics in the area of co-operation between schools and youth welfare services described in the specialist literature and the current changes in the state of Brandenburg formed the starting point for the research project on the co-operation models of youth welfare services and schools. The research project pursued the following four objectives using a qualitative approach:
Firstly, the cooperation models implemented or aimed for between schools and youth welfare services in selected districts or municipalities in the state of Brandenburg were to be recorded, including the associated objectives.
Secondly, the strengths and weaknesses of the various co-operation models between schools and youth welfare services in selected districts and municipalities in the state of Brandenburg were to be compared with the expected results.
Thirdly, the importance of school social work within the various cooperation models between schools and youth welfare services in selected districts and municipalities in the state of Brandenburg was to be determined.
Fourthly, recommendations for action for decision-makers at state and local authority level were to be derived from the results of the study.

In addition to analysing documents, interviews were conducted with 21 experts from schools and youth welfare services in four regions of Brandenburg during the project period. Two groups of experts were of particular importance in the regions: the management level (school authorities, youth welfare office) and the action level (social workers, school social workers, school management).

Commissioned by:
German Children and Youth Foundation(www.dkjs.de)

Project leader:
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)
Holger Backhaus-Maul (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

Duration:
10/2006 - 05/2007

Research assistant:
Jan Reichenau (Berlin/Halle)

Project description:
The scientific evaluation related to the teaching and learning concept of Service Learning, which has been used by a volunteer agency at schools in the state of Saxony-Anhalt since 2003 as part of the DKJS-funded programme. The aim of the evaluation was to analyse the experiences of the various participants using qualitative participatory survey instruments and procedures. In addition, findings were to be generated that related to the achievement of objectives, the effects and the cooperation interfaces of the programme and thus made an overall assessment possible in the first place. Specifically, the following questions were clarified:

1.) What individual and collective experiences have students, teachers, cooperation partners, project leaders and funders had with the Service Learning programme and how is the programme assessed by these actors in terms of subjective and conceptual objectives?
2) What development processes took place during the programme and - above all - how did the co-operation between the different groups of actors, in particular between teachers and project staff, develop?
3) To what extent was it possible to use the potential of service learning for school programme development in the sense of an "institutional opening" with the help of different forms of offer?
4) Which beneficial and obstructive factors emerge with regard to the conceptual, structural and process quality of the programme and where is there a need for change and support?

Using the data collected and the analysis of the "Service Learning - Schule gestaltet Gemeinwesen" programme, conclusions were formulated for the implementation of the programme and the promotion of civic engagement in schools.

Client:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg(www.mbjs.brandenburg.de)

Project leader:
Prof. Dr Wilfried Schubarth (University of Potsdam)
Dr Karsten Speck (deputy project leader, University of Potsdam)

Duration:
08/2004 - 12/2006

Research assistants:
Dr Andreas Seidel (University of Potsdam)
Ulrike Gladasch (University of Potsdam)
Dr Charlotte Gemsa (University of Potsdam)
Daniela Kunze (University of Potsdam)

Student assistants:
Daniele Schultz
Nicole Vogel
Sina Abraham

Project description:
In view of the ongoing nationwide debate on the reform of teacher training, the first aim of the research project was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the second phase of teacher training (preparatory service) in the state of Brandenburg from the perspective of teacher candidates, seminar leaders, training teachers and head teachers. Secondly, comparisons were to be drawn between the perspectives of all four groups of interviewees and similarities and differences identified. Thirdly, the intention was to record and develop reform proposals and recommendations for training in the preparatory service and to obtain assessments of existing reform proposals. The study was also particularly interested in how intensively certain competences were taught during training and how competent the teacher candidates are with regard to these competences.

Literature:
Schubarth, Wilfried/Speck, Karsten/Seidel, Andreas (eds.) 2007: Endlich Praxis! The second phase of teacher training. Potsdamer Studien zum Referendariat, Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag
Schubarth, Wilfried/ Speck, Karsten/ Gladasch, Ulrike/ Seidel, Andreas 2006: Ausbildungsprozess und Kompetenzen. Results of the Potsdam Teacher Candidate Study 2004/05, In: Seifried, Jürgen/ Abel, Jürgen (eds.): Empirische Lehrerbildungsforschung. Status and Perspectives, Münster, pp. 161-180

Client:
Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Berlin(www.paritaet-berlin.de)

Project leader:
Holger Backhaus-Maul (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)
Dr Karsten Speck (University of Potsdam)

Duration:
10/2004-5/2005

Project description:
The research project consisted of a quantitative and a qualitative research approach. The aim of the quantitative study of the facilities and services of the member organisations of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Berlin was primarily to take stock of civic involvement. In particular, the focus was on the significance and scope of volunteering in the member organisations. The qualitative research approach was used to crystallise the organisational knowledge of civic engagement in the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Berlin and how they control and manage civic engagement in their institutions and services. Last but not least, the focus was on the perspectives, options and strategies for the further development of engagement in the institutions and services of the member organisations of the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband.

Literature:

Backhaus-Maul, H./Speck, K. 2005: Bürgerschaftliches Engagement 2005. Eine empirische Untersuchung zum bürgerschaftlichen Engagement in den Mitgliedsorganisationen des Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverbandes Berlin, final report. Berlin.

Backhaus-Maul, Holger/ Speck, Karsten 2006: Engagement as a resource. In the independent welfare sector, commitment is being rediscovered and re-located in the organisations, In: Blätter der Wohlfahrtspflege, 153. vol. 6, pp. 203-208.

- Jugend und Jugendforschung: Eine Erkundungsstudie in Brandenburg
- wissenschaftliche Begleitung von Xenos-Projekten
- Jugendliche in peripheren Regionen Brandenburgs (Eigenmittel)
- Soziale Probleme Jugendlicher in Deutschland, Polen, und Russland (DAAD)
- Qualität und Evaluation in der Schulsozialarbeit (Eigenmittel)
- Evaluation interkultureller Moderation in sozialen Brennpunkten (Kiez e.V. Berlin)
- Evaluation of extracurricular political education (Werftpfuhl educational centre)
- Stocktaking in family education in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and development of funding contracts in family education in the state of Saxony-Anhalt (together with Prof. Dr. Olk). with Prof. Dr Olk) (05/2002-12/2002)
- Research project on quality development in extracurricular child and youth education in the state of Saxony-Anhalt (with Prof. Dr Olk) (11/2000 - 12/2001)
- Scientific support for the development and testing of grant contracts in child and youth education in the state of Saxony-Anhalt (with Prof. Dr Olk) (11/2000 - 12/2001) with Prof. Dr. Olk) (01/2002 - 12/2003)
- Evaluation of the implementation of the state programme Cooperation between schools and youth welfare - school social work in Saxony-Anhalt (10/1998 - 07/2003)