27.05.2021 – 17:01
University of Kassel
Millions of dollars to fund the digitization of teaching at the University of Kassel
Promoting the digitization of teaching at the University of Kassel: Through the Foundation for Innovation in University Teaching, federal and state governments are supporting projects with around 3.7 million euros that foster a smart mix of online attendance and education after the pandemic. These include, for example, a virtual construction site for studying civil engineering, teacher training podcasts or digital gallery formats in art teaching.
Professor Dr. commented. Renee Matzdorf, Vice President for Studies and Education. “At the same time, this helps us provide outstanding support to students with different educational requirements and prepare our future graduates for a changing world of work.”
With about € 2.9 million, the single project “Kassel Digital University: Re-designing University Teaching” is financing a number of sub-projects that test and use new digital technologies and tools, support the interconnection between face-to-face teaching and distance education or, in general, improve student infrastructure. For example:
– The virtual building site for a single family home is available for training by students from various engineering disciplines
Exhibit and digital portfolio formats as areas of communication in art and design education permanently complement attendee-oriented teaching practice
– Podcasts in teacher training that clarify the “myths of educational research” and contribute to evidence-based practice in the teaching profession
– The lecture on “General Chemistry” is supplemented by self-study formulas that make chemistry tangible with the help of virtual reality
– Can prototype standard mobile digital student workstations (virtual desktops)
Another important concern is reducing barriers in digital teaching. Coordinated by the University of Kassel Teaching Services Center, the aforementioned projects and twelve sub-projects aim to further develop the current drivers of virtual teaching and make them usable in digitally enriching teaching in the future even after the pandemic.
In addition, the joint project “Associations for Teaching and Learning in Courses Containing Mathematics” has a special place: the University of Kassel collaborates with the University of Paderborn in the framework of the Joint Competence Center for the University’s teaching in Mathematics. Elements of digital teaching in mathematics such as explanatory videos, digital assignments or digital texts should be included in coherent educational concepts for mathematics courses, mathematics, engineering and economics education. Total funding amounts to 1.51 million euros; Kassel is worth 765,000 euros.
The Foundation for Innovation in University Teaching, established in 2020, aims to enable innovations in teaching and learning at universities and to continuously enhance the capacity of university teaching to renew itself. It is a trustworthy foundation sponsored by the not-for-profit Toepfer Foundation gGmbH. All funds are provided for funding, program, organization, and administration by the federal and state governments. A total of 264 applications were submitted as part of the “Enhance University Teaching through Digitization” call, including 216 individual applications and 48 joint applications. The Project Selection Committee ranked 139 projects as eligible, including 115 individual projects and 24 joint proposals.
------------------------------------ Ihr Ansprechpartner in der Pressestelle der Universität Kassel:
Sebastian Mense Universität Kassel Kommunikation, Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Tel.: +49 561 804-1961 E-Mail: [email protected] www.uni-kassel.de
“Certified gamer. Problem solver. Internet enthusiast. Twitter scholar. Infuriatingly humble alcohol geek. Tv guru.”
