Anselmann, SebastianSebastianAnselmannFaßhauer, UweUweFaßhauerWindelband, LarsLarsWindelband2025-04-092025-04-092024-05-15Creative Education 15 (7): 1337-1358 (2024)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/55269Learning factories operate as intricate simulations of actual work and produc- tion procedures. Specifically, their purpose is to facilitate the cultivation of vocational skills aligned with the demands of Industry 4.0. This paper begins by exploring learning factories as progressive learning spaces, underscoring the significance of cyber-physical systems. Following this, it outlines the cur- rent state of implementation and conceptual advancement of vocational learning factories in German vocational schools based on preliminary survey findings. To gain insight, a descriptive quantitative survey with 41 items was developed. The items were operationalized from the main theoretical con- cepts and research articles on learning factories, with a focus on the opera- tional process, the alignment of didactical components and items on the on- going processes and maintenance of learning factories. In total, 69 vocational schools with operating learning factories took part in the survey. The ques- tionnaire revealed a heterogeneous picture with regard to size, the depart- ments involved and personnel development and training. Involved teachers often integrated only individual components and did so irregularly to inte- grate the topics covered in their lessons. The entire learning factory was rarely used, although the relevance and didactic value were known to the involved staff. Dealing with a learning factory requires extensive special knowledge of the technologies used. It encompasses all levels of the automation pyramid, as well as an embedded pedagogical curriculum. In addition, there is high time expenditure in terms of planning, coordination, setup and operation, which also includes constant training and maintenance.en2151-4755202407Scientific Research Publishinghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Social Sciences::371: Teachers, Methods, and DisciplineTechnology::600: TechnologyJournal Articlehttps://doi.org/10.15480/882.1504410.4236/ce.2024.15708110.15480/882.15044Journal Article