Analysing the impact of out-of-classroom experiential learning on teachers

Project description

The Challenge

“HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen” runs challenge-based learning projects in schools. In these projects, students carry out self-chosen learning projects outside the classroom - such as crossing the Alps, running a social initiative, or writing a book. The goal is to foster personal development, self-confidence, and problem-solving skills through self-directed action, teamwork, and experiences outside the comfort zone.

During preparation and implementation, students are supported by teachers. However, teachers do not take on the traditional teaching role; instead, they act as learning facilitators. They provide support only as much as necessary, but as little as possible. This shift in role not only opens new learning spaces for students but also changes teachers’ perspectives on teaching and learning.

The impact of the HERAUSFORDERUNG projects on students has already been extensively studied scientifically. However, regarding the impact on teachers, there are currently mainly hypotheses and experiential insights from the “HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen” team. Although data from teachers has already been collected, it has not yet been analyzed due to limited time, personnel resources, and expertise in quantitative data analysis. As a result, there is still a lack of robust evidence regarding the effects of the HERAUSFORDERUNG projects on teachers. This makes it difficult for “HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen” to communicate the program’s impact in a well-founded way to existing funding partners. At the same time, the team itself lacks a data-based understanding to better understand which changes the projects trigger in teachers and how the program can be further developed to achieve its goals.

The Project

In this project, the existing data will be analyzed in a scientifically rigorous way in order to draw reliable conclusions about how the HERAUSFORDERUNG projects affects teachers.

The data was collected from approximately 35 teachers at multiple time points (pre-post: before and after participation in the HERAUSFORDERUNG projects) through structured interviews. These interviews included both qualitative data and self-assessment scale questions covering the following topics: mindset, student orientation, instructional design, collaboration with parents, and collegial collaboration. The same questions were also collected from a control group (teachers not participating in the HERAUSFORDERUNG projects).

In the project, the data will first be explored to derive hypotheses and research questions together with impact manager Tobias from “HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen”. These will then be examined in more detail using appropriate statistical methods. The results will be interpreted and presented visually and interpreted in a PDF or HTML report.

The Impact

By analyzing the collected data, the team at “HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen” will gain, for the first time, robust evidence on how the projects affect teachers. This allows existing assumptions to be empirically tested and enables more transparent communication of the program’s impact to funding partners. At the same time, the project strengthens the organization’s data capabilities, as impact manager Tobias gains hands-on experience in quantitative data analysis, helping to embed this knowledge sustainably within the organization.

Timeline

• Until 25.05.2026: Applications open
• Until 05.06.2026: Team selection
• 05.06.2026 – 17.06.2026: Onboarding
• 30.06.2026, 18:00–19:30: Kickoff (online)
• Project duration: until mid-December 2026

Your Team and Your Role

In the Data4Good project, you will become part of a team consisting of Tobias of „HERAUSFORDERUNG einfach machen“ , as well as 3–4 other volunteers from CorrelAid. Together, you can use your skills and potential for a good cause, support a great nonprofit organization, and most importantly: have fun. Here’s what you can expect as a CorrelAid Data4Good volunteer:

• A place for learning: A CorrelAid project is a great place to share knowledge, learn new skills, or to deepen existing ones and apply them in practice.
• (Shared) responsibility: Together with your teammates, you take responsibility for the entire project. You are (co-)responsible for specific tasks and outputs, depending on your team role (see below).
• Support and collaboration: You support each other within the team, coordinate closely, and share knowledge. You can ask for advice in the CorrelAid Slack community. The full-time CorrelAid team is available in the background if problems arise.
• Flexibility: You can organize your time flexibly and work on the project whenever and wherever you want. You can work independently or meet with teammates for (online) co-working or collaboration.
• Online communication: You coordinate with other team members via Slack and regularly participate in meetings with your project partners (approximately every 1–3 weeks, depending on the project and phase). Occasionally, additional meetings or coordination with project partners or team members may be necessary.
• A supportive environment for everyone: CorrelAid’s goal is to ensure that everyone in the community—regardless of background, prior experience, gender, or other personal characteristics—can contribute and grow as a person. A respectful and safe environment is essential for this. Therefore, collaboration within the project team follows the values and principles outlined in the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. The Ethics Commission and Community Team provide concrete and enforceable processes to support you if you observe or experience violations of these rules and values during the project.
• Time commitment: You can expect a time commitment of approximately 4 hours per week.

To help you better assess where you can contribute most effectively with your skills and experience, we outline different team roles below. In the application form, you can select one or more roles that appeal to you.

There are two specific roles that do not require technical knowledge or prior experience:

Team Coordinator: As a team coordinator, you do not need technical skills, but you should be motivated to coordinate and organise teams.

Team Trainee: The team trainee role is for individuals who have little or no technical knowledge but would like to gain technical skills during the project. As a team trainee, you still share responsibility for the project’s success and are responsible for shaping your own learning experience - for example, by collaborating with one of the technical roles.