Digitalisation strategy in teaching

It encompasses objectives and measures in the following areas:

Digital competencies and teaching-learning scenarios

At RUB, students acquire extended digitalisation competencies and the ability to approach digital technologies that they use for communication and problem-solving in a confident manner and with a critical mindset. Teaching-learning scenarios benefit from the effective combination of classroom training and digital assistance.

RUB implements the following:

• Lecturers and tutors develop new digital teaching-learning scenarios and optimise their current syllabus.
• The university library and IT.Services provide advice on issues such as academic work and research techniques, database usage, copyright, open access, digital publishing and data protection.
• The e-learning Department at Zentrum für Wissenschaftsdidaktik is setting up dedicated advisory services for faculties in order to help them implement their digitalisation concepts.
• In the degree courses, digital competencies are firmly embedded as study goals and are thus obligatory for all students.

Assessment and evaluation

At RUB, exams, academic credits and transcripts of records are available in digital form: lecturers and tutors take advantage of digital services to upgrade their seminars, lectures and workshops. Such services enable lecturers and tutors to give feedback to students on their performance. As a result, they can continuously optimise and individualise their syllabi and strengthen the interaction with their students. Thus, they react to their students’ different requirements and their individual learning progress and level of knowledge.

RUB implements the following:

• Together with our IT.Services and Zentrum für Wissenschaftsdidaktik, interested faculties draw up recommendations for eExams.
• Zentrum für Wissenschaftsdidaktik provides advice on digital learning progress monitoring, in particular on options to create individual solutions at the university’s e-learning platform Moodle.
• Interested faculties are supplied with a dedicated software to identify plagiarised documents and theses.
• Students can assess lectures and seminars anonymously via a software. In order to continuously optimise their software, the developers routinely conduct surveys among the students. Digital media thus help optimise education.

Internationalisation

Digital instruments and platforms facilitate the access to international world-class research. International teaching-learning formats, educational collaborations and networks facilitate virtual mobility in all degree courses: both researchers and students discuss their subjects across national borders. Consequently, the disciplines and related methodologies are part of an international, interlinked and collaborative research and development network. Students and lecturers use digital instruments to explore interconnected and global education and research networks.

RUB implements the following:

• By taking part in international educational collaborations, university partnerships and networks, lecturers and faculties pursue sustainable cooperation.
• The International Office and Zentrum für Wissenschaftsdidaktik assess simple digital options for assisting lecturers and tutors in preparing and implementing collaborative sessions with didactic and technological know-how.
• Tandems, networks and preliminary courses online: by providing a wealth of digital services, RUB lecturers and tutors prepare international students for degree courses at RUB. RUB students have the option to use supplementary online programmes prior to, during or after taking part in international exchange.
• RUB uses dedicated software to promote international collaboration. Video conferences and virtual data storage aid communication and exchange across national borders.

Inclusion

The digitalisation strategy aims at raising awareness for inclusion at the faculties and ensures that all individuals have the same chances: more and more digital teaching-learning scenarios at RUB are specifically designed to promote equal opportunities. To this end, barrier-free technology is implemented – first and foremost in communication. RUB thus champions the inclusion of people with disabilities.

RUB implements the following:

• Seminars and information sessions with third-party lecturers raise awareness for the subject matter.
• RUB conducts surveys among its members in order to identify the target groups whose challenges the university wishes to address.
• RUB uses digital technologies in order to meet specific requirements: lecturers and tutors can provide barrier-free exams as well as tailor-cut learning options for students.
• Together with other universities, RUB is drawing up guidelines for inclusivity in digital teaching-learning scenarios.
• When selecting new software, the experts at IT.Services opt for barrier-free alternatives.

Infrastructure and support

Digital teaching and learning is one of the key areas within the digitalisation strategy. The technological infrastructure is important, but it is not an end in itself: RUB is continuously optimising its technological infrastructure in order to generate didactic and practical added value for lecturers and students.

RUB implements the following:

• Ongoing optimisation of fundamental technological infrastructure, such as comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage.
• RUB provides further education and consultancy on numerous aspects of digitalisation. These services are listed at a central website (German).
• Competent professionals are at hand to provide assistance for legal questions pertaining to digitalisation, e.g. copyright. They share information on new developments and other relevant info regarding digitalisation at our university.