In the ‘Empirical Teaching and Learning Research’ research area, theory-guided teaching and learning processes are described, explained and, where appropriate, optimised. This involves, for example, examining the conditions under which teaching becomes institutionalised. Typical topics include:

• cognitive and motivational processes among teachers and learners
• learning as an active process
• structures of knowledge
• the mutual influence between teachers and learners through direct interactions and through indirect mutual expectations
• Relationships between task setting, task sequences, learning problems and learning outcomes