Helvi Koch

Dr. Helvi Koch is a research associate at the Chair of General Primary School Education, Department of Education and Psychology, Free University of Berlin, where she has been employed since March 2019. She previously served as research assistant at the University of Potsdam from 2009 to 2019 across several chairs, including Primary School Pedagogy/General Education and Psychological Primary School Education.

Education

• 2015 – Dr. phil. (Doctor of Philosophy), University of Potsdam
• 2011 – Magistra Artium, University of Potsdam
• 2008 – State Examination in Teaching, University of Potsdam

Research Focus

Dr. Koch’s research centres on the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based pedagogical-psychological interventions in primary education, with a particular emphasis on fostering reading literacy through reciprocal teaching methods. She investigates the effectiveness of instructional media and learning materials in elementary classrooms and explores the integration of philosophical inquiry with children to enhance critical and creative thinking. Her work contributes to understanding how self-regulated learning strategies can be embedded in daily teaching practice to support diverse learners.

Scientific Awards

• 2015 – 1st Poster Prize, 3rd Conference of the Gesellschaft für Empirische Bildungsforschung (GEBF), Bochum
• 2013 – 1st Poster Prize, 1st Conference of the Gesellschaft für Empirische Bildungsforschung (GEBF), Kiel
• 2011 – Comenius-EduMedia-Award for the interactive CD-ROM “Doppel-Klick” (co-author)

Teaching & Supervision

Dr. Koch offers seminars on general primary school pedagogy, diagnostics, and school development. She supervises bachelor theses on reading competence, creativity, social competence, and stress management among primary pupils, as well as master theses focusing on intervention studies in classrooms and extended education settings and on multi-professional cooperation in schools.

Professional Memberships

• Gesellschaft für Empirische Bildungsforschung (GEBF)
• Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Philosophierens mit Kindern
• Gesellschaft für Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU)