Digital Pact—and what now? A position statement from the perspective of research on learning and instruction

Abstract

Against the background of the so-called Digital Pact of the Federal Government and the Länder in Germany, the article discusses three conditions for success which appear to be of central importance for effective technology-enhance learning and teaching: (a) the required infrastructure, (b) teachers with the necessary professional competencies and effective teacher training to support the development of these skills, and (c) digital materials and concepts for their meaningful use in the classroom. For each of the three conditions for success, a fact check is first carried out on the current status before challenges are discussed in the realisation of these conditions as well as possible contributions from research on learning and instruction. The contribution concludes with a plea with regard to four points: 1. the relevance of research on learning and instruction for teaching and learning with digital media as well as (technology-related) teacher training, 2. the stronger consideration of its findings in educational practice as well as in the design of research funding programmes, 3. an adaptation of funding structures to the requirements of research on technology-enhanced learning and teaching, and 4. the optimisation of the transfer of knowledge into practice.