idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
04/09/2026 11:53

When is school fun? New project explores what makes learning enjoyable

Iris Meyer Stabsbereich Kommunikation
Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsverläufe

    When students enjoy their studies, not only does their motivation increase, but so does their performance. In the new research project ‘School Fun,’ the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) is investigating which influences at school and at home promote enjoyment of learning and thus long-term academic success. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the project starts in April.

    Pupils who enjoy learning perform better, develop a deeper interest and are significantly more willing to make an effort. They use more efficient learning strategies and are better able to regulate themselves. However, although this emotion is essential for educational success, research shows that it often However, although this emotion is essential for educational success, research shows that it often declines over the course of schooling.

    A new perspective: Focus on the environment

    Unlike many previous studies, the new project looks beyond the classroom. Project leader Dr Anna Hawrot focuses on so-called distal influencing factors: the role of parents, teachers and peers and how they contribute to the development and maintenance of enjoyment of learning.

    Innovation through open science

    To gain insights into the dynamic processes that take place between children, teachers and parents on the one hand and enjoyment of learning and educational success on the other, six existing, comprehensive longitudinal data sets from freely accessible sources are evaluated, including data from the NEPS Starting Cohort 2. This method makes it possible to gain deeper insights using statistical models than individual studies have been able to achieve so far.

    Promoting academic success

    By identifying the roles of parents, teachers and peers, the study aims to provide sound evidence on what specific measures can be taken to increase the joy of learning in a targeted manner. This will create a basis for promoting the long-term educational success of pupils.


    Contact for scientific information:

    https://www.lifbi.de/en-us/Start/Institute/People/Person/account/3481?name=Hawro... Dr. Anna Hawrot


    More information:

    https://www.lifbi.de/en-us/Start/Research/Projects/School-Fun-en-US Project page


    Images

    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Teachers and pupils
    Language / literature, Mathematics, Psychology, Social studies, Teaching / education
    transregional, national
    Research projects, Schools and science
    English


     

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).