The major purpose of research in the present study was to contribute to the clarification of physics-related learning conditions in the phase when students change from primary to secondary school stage. This purpose goes back to the divergent performance of German primary and secondary school students in the science part of international comparative studies which have placed teachers under considerable pressure to provide an effective working atmosphere in their classrooms including an appropriate use of time for engagement in physics-specific contents. There is a wide consensus that, in developing efficient classroom management strategies, teachers can guarantee a higher amount of academic learning time, which proves relevant not only for students' school performance, but also for fostering their motivation to learn (science). The present study firstly aimed at contributing to the demand of a theoretical conceptualization that regards classroom management in the overall structure of quality of instruction. Against this background, the study suggests a clear, detailed definition of classroom management with three subconstructs discipline, rules and rituals and prevention of disruption, but also addresses the desiderata in terms of subject-specific research on classroom management.

In language learning contexts, the role of the language teacher is a particularly crucial one: it is the teacher who, through and with their use of (the foreign) language, has a significant influence on the extent to which language learners are linguistically/cognitively activated, and thus determines whether processes of language learning are initiated and promoted, or perhaps even impeded or prevented. Thus, it is of utmost importance for language teachers to acquire a high level of classroom discourse competence (CDC) - a professional competence that goes far beyond the notions of FL proficiency and communicative competence. Located at the intersection of theory, classroom research and practical approaches to (E)FL teacher education, Classroom Discourse Competence: Current Issues in Language Teaching and Teacher Education offers university students, trainee teachers, in-service teachers and teacher educators a comprehensive conceptualization of CDC (Part I). Furthermore, the chapters in this book explore facets of CDC (Part II) and present good-practice examples of CDC development in the context of pre-service teacher education (Part III).

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the theoretical background and practice of physics teaching and learning and assists in the integration of highly interesting topics into physics lessons. Researchers in the field, including experienced educators, discuss basic theories, the methods and some contents of physics teaching and learning, highlighting new and traditional perspectives on physics instruction. A major aim is to explain how physics can be taught and learned effectively and in a manner enjoyable for both the teacher and the student. Close attention is paid to aspects such as teacher competences and requirements, lesson structure, and the use of experiments in physics lessons. The roles of mathematical and physical modeling, multiple representations, instructional explanations, and digital media in physics teaching are all examined. Quantitative and qualitative research on science education in schools is discussed, as quality assessment of physics instruction. The book is of great value to researchers involved in the teaching and learning of physics, to those training physics teachers, and to pre-service and practising physics teachers.

One influencing factor on students' achievement is teachers' professional knowledge. The goal of this dissertation was to assess primary school teachers' content knowledge (CK) of physics, as one domain of professional knowledge, and analyse the impact of CK on the actual teaching and students' learning outcomes in the topic "tates of matter and phase transitions". A test assessing the teachers' CK and a video analysis scheme have been developed to describe the quality of teachers' instruction during the lessons in terms of learning process sequencing and content structure. Multilevel analyses showed a significant positive impact of teachers' CK on students' achievement depending on the way the learning opportunities were sequenced within the lesson, while no significant influence of content structure could be shown.

This thesis, an explorative case study, provides insights into the implementation of inquiry-based learning in an authentic classroom. For one year, a teacher was accompanied while implementing inquiry-based learning in a highly diverse class. In doing so, the observations focused on strategies for both scaffolding and dealing with diversity. Additionally, data reflecting students' views of scientific inquiry were gathered. The results show a successive implementation of inquiry-based learning through four phases supported by various scaffolding strategies. The views of scientific inquiry are discussed on both the class and the individual level. Finally, all these findings are brought together to paint a vivid picture of the investigated class. Die vorliegende Arbeit, eine explorative Fallstudie, bietet einen Einblick in ein authentisches Klassenzimmer, in dem Forschendes Lernen eingeführt wurde. Dazu wurde eine Lehrperson ein Jahr lang begleitet. Die Beforschung fokussierte auf Lernbegleitungsstrategien, den Umgang mit Diversität sowie den Sichtweisen der Schülerinnen und Schüler über Naturwissenschaften. Die Resultate zeigen eine schrittweise Einführung von Forschendem Lernen in vier Phasen, begleitet von vielfältigen Lernbegleitungsstrategien. Schließlich werden alle Ergebnisse zusammengeführt, um ein lebendiges Bild des untersuchten Unterrichts und der Personen zu zeichnen.

Although various arguments for integrated learning of mathematics and science exist, empirical evidence that integrated learning is as beneficial as anticipated is limited. Therefore this quasi-experimental study investigates the effect of integrated learning of mathematics and science on eight student variables by comparing it to a control group. Results show that integrated learning is no miracle cure but has positive and negative effects on specific student outcomes. Whereas integrated learning effects students' view of the relation between mathematics and science positively, it effects students' scientific self-concept negatively. Thus, integrated learning should not substitute but rather complement disciplinary learning. Obwohl zahlreiche Argumente für das integrierte Lernen von Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften existieren, ist die vorteilhafte Wirkung integrierten Lernens begrenzt empirisch belegt. Im Rahmen dieser quasi-experimentellen Studie wird der Effekt integrierten Lernens auf acht Schülervariablen durch Vergleiche mit einer Kontrollgruppe untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass integriertes Lernen kein Allheilmittel ist sondern positive und negative Effekte auf bestimmte Schülervariablen hat. Während integriertes Lernen die Sicht der Schülerinnen und Schüler auf die Beziehung zwischen Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften positiv beeinflusst, hat es einen negativen Effekt auf das naturwissenschaftliche Selbstkonzept. Daher sollte integriertes Lernen nicht stellvertretend sondern ergänzend zu disziplinärem Lernen implementiert werden.

Research on teachers' professional knowledge hints at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge being an important criterion for instructional quality and student achievement. This research project investigates the relation between teachers' pedagogical content knowledge, teachers' actions, and students' content knowledge in physics comparing Finland, Germany, and Switzerland.