This study focuses on the assessment of educational-psychological teacher competencies regarding generic teaching and learning (TL) components in initial university-based teacher education. Based on the approximations-of-practice (AoP) framework, simulated teaching events (M-Teach) with different formats (tutoring, small group) were developed. In a validation study, it was asked to what extent preservice teachers show teaching skills discriminating students in their teaching quality. Furthermore, the relationship between performances in different M-Teach formats was investigated and compared with teaching in real classrooms. Finally, how preservice teachers experience teaching in M-Teach events and how their subjective experience is related to their performance was analyzed. As a sample, a full cohort of preservice teachers in the fifth semester of a Bachelor teacher education program in Germany (N = 89) participated. All participants taught two M-Teach formats of tutoring and small group teaching based on a standardized instruction and research design procedure. Video analysis of M-Teach event performance revealed that preservice teachers show relevant teaching skills with variations in teaching quality. The performance scores show a quite high stability between different formats (tutoring, small group) and are systematically related to performance in classroom teaching. Participants judge self-efficacy as high and the challenge of implementation as medium to low. The findings indicate that M-Teach events show a high fidelity for formative assessment purposes and can be used in further studies as measures for assessing the acquisition of relevant teaching skills in the area of educational-psychological competencies.

Zusammenfassung. Im Rahmen einer deutschlandweiten Scaling-up Studie wurde eine Prüfung des Kompetenzmodells der Professionellen Unterrichtswahrnehmung mit dem Tool Observer an einer Stichprobe von N = 1029 Lehramtsstudierenden vorgenommen. Als Teil der Validierung des Instruments wurde untersucht, inwieweit das Instrument bei Studierenden unterschiedlicher Lehramtsstudiengänge vergleichbar eingesetzt werden kann. Analog zu den Befunden der Skalierungsstudie (N = 152) kann Professionelle Unterrichtswahrnehmung empirisch als eine Gesamtfähigkeit abgebildet werden, die sich in die drei Aspekte Beschreiben, Erklären und Vorhersagen differenzieren lässt. Diese Kompetenzstruktur wird bei Studierendengruppen verschiedener Lehramtsstudiengänge repliziert, wobei die Interpretation der Itemschwierigkeiten mit Blick auf die verschiedenen Lehramtsstudiengänge erfolgen muss.

No abstract

For many years, hypericum extracts have been used in the treatment of depressive disorders. The therapeutical use of these extracts has been predominantly justified for a long time by the clinical evidence of efficacy and only partly by results of scientific studies. The aim of the present investigation is to perform a meta-analysis of the placebo- and verum-controlled studies carried out till now, to examine the relevance of hyperforin and hypericin for the clinical efficacy of St. John's Wort, to discuss biochemical and pharmacoendocrinological studies investigating the mechanism of action, and to describe side effects and interactions of hypericum extracts. In particular during recent years, methodologically quite sophisticated studies have been performed. The comprehensive evaluation of all studies available suggests a significant superiority of hypericum extracts over placebo, despite the negative results of two recently published American trials, and a therapeutic efficacy comparable to that of synthetic antidepressants in mildly to moderately depressed patients. Furthermore, it has been suggested in preclinical and clinical studies that the content of hyperforin but not of hypericin decisively contributes to the antidepressant efficacy of hypericum extracts. Hyperforin has been demonstrated in biochemical investigations--like synthetic antidepressants--to inhibit the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Hypericum extracts can be regarded as well tolerated, and they extend the variety of pharmacotherapeutical options in the treatment of depression, especially in outpatients. However, interactions in combination treatments are possible by interference with the cytochrom P450 system, thereby changing plasma levels of other medications.