Theory meets practice: The Mobile Teaching and Learning Lab “Orientation” in Geography Education
07/29/2026Armed with compasses, GPS devices and plenty of a spirit of discovery, the area near Kitzingen Primary School was transformed into an open-air geography laboratory. In the mobile teaching and learning laboratory (mLLL) run by the Department of Didactics of Geography at the University of Würzburg, primary school children explored their surroundings through play, created their own treasure hunts and then designed their first digital map.
Over the course of two mornings in June and July 2026, the grounds near the Siedlungsgrundschule Kitzingen were transformed into a vibrant research field: As part of the mobile teaching and learning lab (mLLL) “Orientation in Geography Education”, a total of four elementary school classes in grades 3 and 4 experienced hands-on geography. This innovative project was conceived as part of two academic theses by students Sharina Wieland and Felicia Schobert, with the aim of implementing and evaluating modern geographical working methods in a way that is student-centered and action oriented.
Field Research: From compass and GPS to creating their own map
Under the motto “Discover, Understand and Apply”, the elementary school students learned how to use analog and digital geography tools in practice. Equipped with compasses and GPS devices, the children navigated the terrain independently in small groups, each supervised by two students. They solved exciting orientation challenges, determined their own double-step count, and playfully developed their spatial awareness by independently creating a treasure hunt for other groups. A small memento of this special day awaited the children in each treasure chest.
Back in the classroom, the day concluded with a creative and cognitive activity: The collected geographic data and observations were analyzed, after which the students proudly created their very first digital map.
A real win for everyone involved
The Teaching and Learning Lab is a classic win-win situation for both the school and the university:
- Benefits for students and teachers: They leave the classroom, experience a highly motivating project day, and acquire fundamental skills in spatial orientation and the use of modern technologies. Teachers have the opportunity to observe their students in a different educational setting and monitor them closely. They also gain insights into innovative technical, methodological, and didactic approaches.
- Benefits for the university students: During a preparatory meeting on the North Campus, the students received subject-specific and methodological training for their work at the school.
On each day of the project, 16 students provided professional supervision for the classes. They were able to directly apply the theoretical knowledge they had learned in practice and gain valuable experience in guiding groups of students. These experiences were evaluated and reflected upon after the sessions were completed.
The project impressively demonstrates how modern university teaching methods and dynamic classroom instruction can go hand in hand to spark enthusiasm for geography.
Outlook
The Department of Geography Education is working to ensure that this successful project is also offered to other elementary schools.
Contact:
Thomas Amend,
Department of Geography Education
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