The following departments are involved in the project: Work & Organizational Psychology and Computer Science Didactics at Osnabrück University, Business Psychology at Aalen University (HSA) and the Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology in Hanover (TIB). The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth as part of the Empirical Educational Research funding program.
DigiBound is a practical training program that supports children and young people in consciously using digital media, setting limits and actively shaping their digital living and learning environments. "Schools, teachers and other interested parties are invited to join us on this journey and network with the project," explains Prof. Dr. Karsten Müller from Osnabrück University.
The focus of the work to date has been on assessing the needs of pupils at secondary levels I and II. Focus groups were formed at two project schools for this purpose. "We wanted to find out first-hand what challenges young people experience in the conflicting areas of life in the context of digital media - and what support they would like," says Dr. Svenja Schumacher from Osnabrück University. The evaluation of the focus groups provided valuable insights into specific burdens, but also into existing strategies of young people in dealing with digital media in various areas of life.
Based on these results, DigiBound has now started the design phase of the training course. In two university courses at Aalen University and Osnabrück University, students developed the first micromodules on boundary management strategies, i.e. small learning units on concrete approaches that children and young people can use to consciously use digital media and better shape boundaries between areas of life. These modules address key topics from the needs assessment and translate them into practical and age-appropriate learning formats for the school context. The close integration of research, teaching and practice is a central feature of the project.
Training will start at two project schools in April and May 2026. The modules will be tried out and systematically tested in lessons together with pupils and teachers. The feedback collected will form the basis for a subsequent revision of the training before it is implemented and finally evaluated.
In addition, the researchers are actively seeking an exchange with schools and educational stakeholders. An initial workshop has already been held as part of an internal teacher training course at one of the project schools and was met with great interest. The project is also taking part in further events and transfer activities at schools this summer. "The aim is to bring the topic further into school practice, to take up new perspectives and to gain additional interested parties for the project," says Prof. Dr. Regina Kempen from Aalen University.
Further information on the project can be found at: https://digi-ebf.de/digibound or on the LinkedIn account (https://www.linkedin.com/company/107927061/)
Further information for editorial offices:
Lena Haasken, Osnabrück University
Didactics of Computer Science working group
lena.haasken@uni-osnabrueck.de
