Prof. Dr. Michael Besser

21335 Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C16.020
Fon +49.4131.677-2095, michael.besser@leuphana.de
Professor*in, Professorship of Empirical Educational Research in Mathematics Didactics

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Vita

Prof. Dr. Michael Besser is Professor of Empirical Educational Research in Mathematics Didactics since 2018 and Dean of the School of Education at Leuphana University since 2022. His research interests include evidence-based instructional development, teacher professionalism, and empirical discussion of competence. Prof. Dr. Michael Besser is currently a member of the management team of the Future Center for Teacher Education, chair of the Habilitation Commission for Education, and an advisory member of the Senate at Leuphana University.

On a national and international level, Prof. Besser is active as a reviewer (among others for the German Research Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction as well as for various journals) and in education policy committees (among others in the Joint Mathematics Commission Transition School-University, in the Science Council and in the international comparative study PISA).

 

2022 – today:
Dean of the "School of Education" at the “Leuphana University Lüneburg”.

2018 – today:
University Professor (W2) at the “Institut for Mathematics and its Didactics” at the “Leuphana University Lüneburg”.

2016 – 2018:
Assistant Professor (W1) at the “Institut for Mathematics and its Didactics” and at the “Zukunftszentrum Lehrerbildung” at the “Leuphana University Lüneburg”.

2015 – 2016:
Assistant Professor (W1) at the “Institut for Mathematical Education” at the “University of Education Freiburg”.

2014 – 2015:
Teacher for mathematics at the “Oberschule Stadtmitte Lüneburg”.

2014 – 2014:
Teacher for mathematics at the “Friedrich-List-Schule”, secondary school in Kassel.

2012 – 2015:
Research assistant at the institute for mathematics and its didactics at the Leuphana University of Lueneburg (supervisor: Prof. Dr Dominik Leiss).

2009 – 2014:
Research assistant at the institute for mathematics at the University of Kassel (supervisor: Prof. Dr Werner Blum).

2008 – 2009:
Doctoral scholarship at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin (supervisor: Prof. Dr Dr h. c. Jürgen Baumert).

 

Dissertation

2008 – 2013:
PhD student at the University of Kassel within the research project COACTIV (professional competence of teachers, cognitively activating instruction, and development of students’ mathematical literacy), supervised by Prof. Dr Werner Blum and Prof. Dr Dr h. c. Jürgen Baumert. 

Dissertation: The relevance of teachers’ competence for the quality of teaching: expertise and beliefs in the context of teaching and learning mathematics.

 

University Education

2002 – 2007:
Studying mathematics and German for becoming a teacher for secondary school at the University of Kassel

Projects

  1. Center for Empirical Educational Research in Lower Saxony
    Simone Abels (Project manager, academic) , Michael Besser (Project manager, academic) , (Project manager, academic) , (Project manager, academic) , Ramiro Glauer (Coordination)
    →

    Project: Research

  2. Tempolimit, Wärmepumpe, Elektroauto — Nachhaltigkeit mathematisch modellieren
    Michael Besser (Project manager, academic) , Kathrin Padberg-Gehle (Project manager, academic) , (Partner) , Dominik Schlüter (Project staff) , (Project manager, academic)
    →

    Project: Teaching

  3. Learning process diagnostics and learning supportive performance feedback in inclusive subject teaching
    Michael Besser (Project manager, academic) , Timo Ehmke (Project manager, academic) , Dominik Leiss (Project manager, academic) , Poldi Kuhl (Project manager, academic) , Fynn Töllner (Project staff) , (Project staff)
    →

    Project: Research

  4. Gesellschaftliche und normative Herausforderungen von Digitalisierung im Bildungssystem
    Michael Besser (Project manager, academic) , (Project staff) , (Project staff)

    Project: Research

  5. Competences for Digital-Enhanced Individualized Practice
    Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic) , Michael Besser (Project manager, academic) , Poldi Kuhl (Project manager, academic) , Dirk Lehr (Partner) , Jessica Süßenbach (Partner) , Torben Schmidt (Partner) , Larissa Altenburger (Project staff) , Astrid Neumann (Partner) , (Project staff) , (Coordination) , (Project staff) , (Project staff) , (Project staff) , (Project staff) , (Project staff)
    →

    Project: Research

View all projects

Publications

Books and anthologies

  1. Neue Materialien für einen realitätsbezogenen Mathematikunterricht 10: ISTRON-Band zum Modellieren in der Praxis: Lernumgebungen zur Kompetenzorientierung in den Sekundarstufen
    Michael Besser (Author) , Maike Hagena (Author) , Janina Krawitz (Author) , Natalie Tropper (Author) , 2025 1 ed. Berlin/Heidelberg , 147 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  2. Digitales Lehren und Lernen im Fachunterricht: Aktuelle Entwicklungen, Gegenstände und Prozesse
    Michael Ahlers (Editor) , Michael Besser (Editor) , Poldi Kuhl (Editor) , Christian Herzog (Editor) , 2023 Weinheim , 327 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  3. Studentische Forschung im Praxissemester: Fallbeispiele aus der Lehrkräftebildung
    Timo Beckmann (Editor) , Timo Ehmke (Editor) , Michael Besser (Editor) , 2022 1 ed. Bad Heilbrunn , 274 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  4. Lehrerprofessionalität und die Qualität von Mathematikunterricht: Quantitative Studien zu Expertise und Überzeugungen von Mathematiklehrkräften
    Michael Besser (Author) , 2014 Wiesbaden , 244 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research › peer-review

View all publications

Journal contributions

  1. Education for sustainable development through mathematical modelling in higher education: Conceptual considerations, empirical explorations and implications
    Dominik Schlüter (Author) , Maike Hagena (Author) , Robin Göller (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , Kathrin Padberg-Gehle (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  2. Formative assessment in inclusive mathematics education in secondary schools: A systematic review
    Fynn Töllner (Author) , Poldi Kuhl (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , 07.05.2025 , in: Education Science, 15, 5 , 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research

  3. How Does Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Relate to the Fulfilment of Basic Psychological Needs During Teaching Practicum?
    Timo Ehmke (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , Dominik Leiss (Author) , Denise Depping (Author) , 29.11.2024 , in: Education Sciences, 14, 12 , 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  4. On the added value of considering effects of generic and subject-specific instructional quality on students’ achievements – an exploratory study on the example of implementing formative assessment in mathematics education
    Michael Besser (Author) , Maike Hagena (Author) , Thilo Kleickmann (Author) , 01.10.2024 , in: ZDM - Mathematics Education, 56, 5 , p. 815-830 , 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  5. Improving short-term academic performance in the flipped classroom using dynamic geometry software
    Michael Besser (Author) , Chak-Him Fung (Author) , Kin-Keung Poon (Author) , Ming-Chung Fung (Author) , 01.04.2024 , in: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 40, 2 , p. 775-786 , 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

View all publications

Contributions to collected editions/anthologies

  1. Teachers’ use of formative assessment in inclusive mathematics education in German secondary schools
    Fynn Töllner (Author) , Poldi Kuhl (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , Kyra Renftel (Author) , 29.05.2025 1 ed. , p. 256-269 , 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

  2. Using qualitative and quantitative arguments in decision-making situations
    Michael Besser (Author) , Dominik Schlüter (Author) , Dominik Leiss (Author) , Maike Hagena (Author) , 01.01.2025 Cham , p. 125–135 , 11 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review

  3. Students’ use of feedback when working on fractions with a digital learning platform and its effects on mathematical performance
    Larissa Altenburger (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , 01.01.2025 Bozen-Bolzano , p. 2577-2584 , 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review

  4. Zur Frage der Feedbacknutzung bei der Bearbeitung von Bruchrechenaufgaben auf einer digitalen Lernplattform
    Larissa Altenburger (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , 01.01.2025 , p. 526-529 , 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Article in conference proceedings › Research

  5. Zur Wirksamkeit formativen Feedbacks in der Ausbildung angehender Mathematiklehrkräfte
    Saskia Becker (Author) , Maike Hagena (Author) , Michael Besser (Author) , 01.01.2025 , p. 566-569 , 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Article in conference proceedings › Research

View all publications

Activities

  1. Lernende wählen lassen?! Ein systematisches Review zur selbstständigen Feedbackwahl in computerbasierten Lernumgebungen
    Friederike von Kienitz (Speaker) , Fynn Töllner (Speaker) , Maike Hagena (Speaker) , Michael Besser (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  2. Wie Lernende digitale Hilfen nutzen: Feedbackprofile beim Bruchrechnen
    Larissa Altenburger (Speaker) , Michael Besser (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  3. Realitätsbezüge im inklusiven Mathematikunterricht: Eine systematische Literaturübersicht
    Luca Finia Kurre (Speaker) , Dominik Schlüter (Speaker) , Annelen Schnieders (Speaker) , Rebecca Henkel (Speaker) , Mia Viermann (Speaker) , Maike Hagena (Speaker) , Michael Besser (Speaker)

    Activity: Presentations (poster etc.) › Research

  4. Authentizitätswahrnehmung bei realtätsbezogenen Testaufgaben: Einflussfaktoren und emotional-motivationale Effekte.
    Dominik Schlüter (Speaker) , Michael Besser (Speaker) , Larissa Altenburger (Speaker) , Katrin Rakoczy (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  5. Lernprozessbegleitende Diagnostik und lernförderliche Leistungsrückmeldung im inklusiven Fachunterricht
    Fynn Töllner (Speaker) , Michael Besser (Speaker) , Poldi Kuhl (Speaker) , Friederike von Kienitz (Speaker)

    Activity: talk or presentation in privat or public events › Transfer

View all activities

Press / Media

  1. Study Findings from Leuphana University Update Knowledge in Mathematics (Formative Assessment in Inclusive Mathematics Education in Secondary Schools: A Systematic Review)

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  2. Gestaltung eines Seminars mit den Themenschwerpunkten „Digitale Medien“ und „Feedback“ – Ein Rahmenmodell
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  3. Die digitale Didaktik-Werkstatt: Einsatz digitaler Medien im Lehramtsstudium an der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  4. (Wie) Wirkt formatives Assessment in Mathematik auf Leistung und Interesse von Lernenden?
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  5. Millionenförderung für die Leuphana-Lehrerbildung
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

View all press/media coverage

Prizes

Courses