Digitale Lehre

University teaching is faced with the task of reaching students with different learning requirements and life realities. Online teaching offers additional possibilities here: students can work through asynchronous learning units at their own pace or participate from home via online presence events.

At the TU Hamburg, two central systems are available for this purpose:

• The study platform of the TU for asynchronous learning phases
• Video conferencing systems (Zoom or BigBlueButton) for synchronous online events

The combination of these systems makes it possible to use different didactic methods and to prepare learning content in various formats.

Teachers often face various challenges in face-to-face teaching:

• Students come with very different levels of prior knowledge, leading some to feel overwhelmed while others are underchallenged
• Complex subject matter can be difficult to convey in an accessible way
• It is not always easy to engage students actively and maintain their participation throughout the course

Digital tools can provide valuable support in adressing these issues, for example:

• Multimedia representations chelp illustrate abstract concepts more clearly
• Interactive tasks enable students to check and reflect on their own understanding
• Online materials can be used by students for self paced preparation and review

To support the selection of appropriate digital tools, the ZLL, HOOU, and data centre have developed a digital tool guide for teaching. This guide presents specific use cases for a variety of tools tailored to different teaching scenarios

At the ZLL, we provide guidance on how the use of digital tools can meaningfully enhance face-to-face teaching.

The first semesters of study present students with two main challenges:

• They first have to develop the organisation of their own learning
• Different levels of prior knowledge make it difficult to get into the subject matter

A clearly structured self-learning phase can reduce these transitional difficulties. Concrete tasks and learning objectives help to plan regular learning times and to systematically close existing knowledge gaps.

The study platform of the TU Hamburg can help students to better assess their learning process and to work specifically on gaps in their knowledge, for example, through:

• Self-tests to check one's own level of knowledge
• Online exercises with direct feedback
• Learning modules for independent revision of basic knowledge
• Regular surveys on learning progress

Digital teaching not only changes the way learning content is taught and learned. The use of digital technologies also influences the design of exams, tests and feedback processes and should therefore always be taken into account when planning (digital) teaching.

Regular online tests support continuous learning. They help students to assess their level of knowledge and identify gaps at an early stage. For teachers, they provide valuable insights into the learning progress of the group. Digital feedback can be provided in real time and take various forms – from automated responses to personalised comments from teachers. Audio response systems also promote critical engagement with the subject matter.

At ZLL, we advise on how digital tests and digital feedback can be integrated into teaching and contribute to learning success.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has now permeated all areas of life. The integration of AI into teaching is therefore becoming increasingly important. It is changing the way we teach and learn, and thus also influences examination formats and assessments. In order for students to develop a sound understanding of the technological fundamentals as well as the associated opportunities and risks, a comprehensive examination of AI in teaching - from the technical aspects to ethical and social developments - is necessary.

In this context, the TU Hamburg has published the handout (WORT prüfen guideline?) AI-Tools for teaching and learning. This serves as a guide and contains possible teaching scenarios, requirements for examiners, as well as fundamental and legal information.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (ZLL) is also addressing the topic of AI as a cross-cutting issue in our teacher training programmes. In addition, the Multimedia Kontor Hamburg (MMKH) is currently offering training courses on various AI generators. Individual advisory services on these technologies are also available to Hamburg's university partners.