Marit Kastaun

Dr. Marit Kastaun serves as Lecturer for special tasks in the Didactics of Biology at the University of Kassel since November 2023, with continuous affiliation to the department since 2013. She is a core researcher at the FLOX Teaching and Learning Laboratory and contributes to the outdoor education site Freilandlabor Dönche.

Her educational background includes:

• First State Examination for Gymnasium Teaching (Biology/History), University of Kassel (2017)
• Cumulative PhD in Biology Didactics, University of Kassel (2024)

Dr. Kastaun's research pioneers the integration of AI tools in biology teacher education, focusing on adaptive feedback systems for scientific hypothesis formation and diagnostic competence development. Her work bridges digital learning environments with hands-on experimentation, particularly through video-based resources and eye-tracking studies of cognitive processes during scientific inquiry. Current projects emphasize context-aware AI applications in both classroom and outdoor laboratory settings.

Her funded research includes:

• Shift project (2023-present): AI-driven hypothesis feedback systems
• ProfiLL (2020-2023): Intelligent systems for teacher professionalization
• Digital Media Handling (2020-2022): Baseline digital competencies for biology students

At the FLOX Teaching Laboratory, she develops and tests digital learning scenarios that merge theoretical knowledge with practical experimentation, with recent focus on Mimosa pudica movement studies and photosynthesis measurement techniques. Her approach emphasizes inclusive design principles for diverse learner needs in science education.