Thomas Irion

Prof. Dr. Thomas Irion is Professor of Primary School Pedagogy at Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd and serves as Director of the Center for Media Education (Zentrum für Medienbildung). He holds significant leadership roles including membership in the board of the Federal Primary School Association where he oversees the Digital Basic Education department, and as Senior Fellow in the Kolleg Didaktik Digital of the Joachim Herz Foundation.

His research focuses on digital media education in primary schools, with particular emphasis on the integration of AI technologies, establishing the "Primacy of the Pedagogical" in digital environments, and teacher professionalization for digital education. His methodological approach combines qualitative social research, video studies in classroom settings, and design-based research frameworks.

Prof. Irion's recent publications reveal a strong trend toward practical implementation frameworks for digital education in primary schools, with significant attention to the balance between technological possibilities and pedagogical requirements. His work consistently emphasizes age-appropriate digital integration that serves educational goals rather than technology driving pedagogy.

• Senior Fellow im Kolleg Didaktik Digital der Joachim Herz Stiftung
• Mitherausgeber der Zeitschrift "on - Lernen in der digitalen Welt"
• Wissenschaftliche Beratung des KMK-Schulausschusses bei der Erstellung des KMK-Papiers: "Lehren und Lernen in der digitalen Welt"
• Mitglied des wissenschaftlichen Beirats des Forums Bildung Digitalisierung (2017-2019)

Prof. Irion actively supervises research projects and advises government bodies on digital education policy. His Center for Media Education houses innovative learning spaces including the ME.Lab (Media Education Lab) and the FLUX.Lab (Future Learning User Experience Lab), which serve as testing grounds for digital learning concepts and teacher training in digital basic education.