In the "Empirical Teaching and Learning Research" department, teaching and learning processes are described, explained and, if necessary, optimised on the basis of theory. For example, the conditions of institutionalising teaching are examined. Typical topics are

• cognitive and motivational processes in teachers and learners
• Learning as an activating process
• structures of knowledge
• the mutual influence of teachers and learners through direct interactions and indirect mutual expectations
• relationships between tasks, task sequences, learning problems and learning outcomes