Please tell us more about the German spelling reform.

When I was in Germany ten years ago, I had a discussion with a teacher about German spelling. She was intrigued by the idea that "spelling" must be taught in English with rote memorization of many words; at the time, she was "giving dictation" regularly, during which the students wrote down words she recited to them ... apparently, the spelling structure was such that prior study of the words was deemed unnecessary.

I take it that the reform is meant to further simplify the spelling rules?