Tiemann Chemistry Education Lab
NEWS
New Graduation
April 2026
🥳 Congratulations, Lilian!
This week, our team member Lilian Danial successfully defended her PhD thesis. Insights into her fascinating work on the topic of ‘critical thinking’ in a university chemistry laboratory can be found in these two publications, amongst others:
- Danial, L., Koenen, J., & Tiemann, R. (2026). Critical Thinking Performance Assessment in an Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Laboratory Course: Developing a Contextual Critical Thinking Coding Manual. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 10(1), 37–60. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17367
- Danial, L., Koenen, J. & Tiemann, R. (2025). Principles to foster critical thinking skills and dispositions in an undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory course: the impact of modified laboratory manuals. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2026, 27, 317–331. https://doi.org/ 10.1039/d4rp00373j
New Graduation
Mai 2026
Another project has been successfully completed – congratulations, Lisa 🎉!
In her doctoral thesis, Lisa investigated how pupils can be encouraged to create models using appropriate materials. She successfully adapted these ‘modelling-eliciting activities’ from mathematics education for use in chemistry lessons.
RESearch
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9398-8710The research program of the Tiemann Chemistry Education Lab has a strong commitment to knowledge acquisition by problem solving. In quantitative studies with technology based tools the focus is on describing, assessing and supporting the fundamental mechanisms behind this process.
"We only think when we are confronted with problems."
(John Dewey)
Combined with the use of experiments and the use of mental models to understand core concepts of Chemistry, the research program empowers the Tiemann Chemistry Education Lab, theory-driven and empirically, to investigate students' thinking individually or in classrooms. Alumni group members serve as Professors, for Science Outreach Organizations or as Chemistry Teachers.
ACADEMICS
Bachelor
The Chemistry Education Lab at Humboldt-University serves more than 100 students at K-12 (Sekundarstufe) and primary level (Primarstufe) each year through a diverse portfolio of theoretical background knowledge and first practical learning experiences.
From students for students (in german): Video
Master
The professional learning program is designed to improve the skills and competencies in creating innovative learning environments and to learn first teaching experiences. Up to 10 students per year have the chance to finish their studies in T-CEL with a thesis (M.Ed.).
From students for students (in german): Video