Dr. Christian Spreng
Chair of Economic and Business Education – Professional Teaching and Learning
Credit: Alexander Münch
Main fields of research
- Teaching and learning technologies in vocational education (VR/XR, GenAI, SAP4school)
- Learning processes in technology-enhanced learning environments (eye tracking, log data)
- Competence development among vocational students and students in economic and business education
Curriculum vitae
| Since 2026 | Postdoctoral Researcher (Akademischer Rat a. Z.) and Habilitation Candidate, University of Mannheim |
| 2020–2026 | Research Assistant, University of Mannheim |
| 2024 | Ph.D. in Economic and Business Education, University of Mannheim (summa cum laude) |
| 2019–2021 | Program Manager for the B.Sc. and M.Sc. programs in Economic and Business Education, University of Mannheim |
| 2020 | M.Sc. in Economic and Business Education with Political Science, University of Mannheim |
| 2017 | B.Sc. in Economic and Business Education, University of Mannheim |
Selected memberships
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE): Sektion 4 – Empirische Bildungsforschung; Sektion 7 – Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik
- European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI): SIG 14 – Learning and Professional Development; SIG 27 – Online Measures of Learning Processes
- Gesellschaft für Empirische Bildungsforschung (GEBF)
- Professional Development Research Network (PDRnet)
Prizes, awards, honors
- 2025–2029: Postdoctoral Fellowship “Das Junge ZiF”, Bielefeld University
- 2025: Doctoral dissertation awards from the Käthe and Ulrich Pleiß Foundation and the Barbara Hopf Foundation
- 2022: Best Paper Award, SAP Academic Community Conference DACH
- 2021: Barbara Hopf Foundation Award for an outstanding master’s thesis
Selected editorial activities
- Guest Editor of the Collection: ‘Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VET)’ in Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training (Springer Nature)
Selected publications
- Mayer, C., Findeisen, S., Guggemos, J. and Seifried, J. (2026). Visual attention when solving economics learning tasks using dynamic, interactive graphs: an eye-tracking study. The Journal of Economic Education : JEE, 1–21.
- Mühldorfer, R., Mayer, C., Derkau, J., Braun, C. and Seifried, J. (2026). Bridging theory and practice: developing explanatory and reflective skills through immersive VR in teacher education. In Freiräume für innovative digitale Lehre : Gestaltungsprozesse, Lehrprojekte, Reflexionen (S. 149–167). Bielefeld: wbv.
- Mühldorfer, R., Mayer, C., Derkau, J. and Seifried, J. (2026). Lehre(n) neu erleben im VR-Klassenzimmer. Die Hochschullehre, 12, 122–129.
- Mühldorfer, R., Mayer, C., Derkau, J. and Seifried, J. (2026). Lehre(n) neu erleben im VR-Klassenzimmer. Die Hochschullehre, 12, 122–129.
- Gentner, S., Ludwig, S., Braunstein, A., Mayer, C., Deutscher, V., Rausch, A. and Seifried, J. (2024). The digital office simulation LUCA from the perspective of teachers and learners: first findings of usability analyses. In Apprenticeships and the digital transition : modernising apprenticeships to meet digital skill needs (S. 102–117). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
- Mayer, C. (2024). Digitalization in economic and business education – exploring how technology can support and enhance educational processes. Dissertation. Mannheim.
- Mayer, C. and Seifried, J. (2024). Looking behind the scenes: being able to master ERP systems as a goal of vocational education and training. In Apprenticeships and the digital transition : modernising apprenticeships to meet digital skill needs, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, CEDEFOP (S. 118–127). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
- Mayer, C., Gentner, S. and Seifried, J. (2023). Digitale Unterrichtspraxis an kaufmännischen Schulen in der Corona-Pandemie : Eine Momentaufnahme. Zeitschrift für Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik : ZBW, 119, 531–552.
- Mayer, C., Ludwig, S. and Brandt, S. (2023). Prompt text classifications with transformer models! An exemplary introduction to prompt-based learning with large language models. Journal of Research on Technology in Education : JRTE, 55, 125–141.
- Mayer, C., Rausch, A. and Seifried, J. (2023). Analysing domain-specific problem-solving processes within authentic computer-based learning and training environments by using eye-tracking: a scoping review. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 15, 1–27.