Summary

In the project a cross-course wiki was implemented as an instrument of information management, flanked by the development and implementation of an e-learning module. Both e-learning instruments are a component of different courses and are also available to the students as self-learning support. 

The aim was the implementation of a wiki on the topic of further education at the division which, in accordance with the role model of the free encyclopedia Wikipedia, systematically concentrates and archives the knowledge communicated and produced in the courses of the division. This should also be available for all of the students. The accompanying e-learning module "Basics of further education" aims to help the students to create a problem awareness for the inherent theory, research and activity areas of further education. 


Table of contents

Course

Course title7 courses of the Division of Further Education and Educational Management
Course type

Seminars, lectures

Degree programEducational Sciences

Lecturer

Prof. Dr. Harm Kuper

Tools

  • Blackboard
  • Blackboard tests
  • Cross-course wiki

Realization

Both e-learning instruments are based on the same content-related structure and can be implemented in teaching cross-course-wise and in a flexible manner.

E-learning module

The module is made up of five partial modules that all have the same structure for standardization purposes: 

  • Introduction
  • Learning goals
  • Contents
  • Tasks
  • Self-tests
  • Links/literature
  • Transition

The content-related structure of the entire module is portrayed with the aid of a cognitive map.                                                                                                     

The online learning module is implemented, amongst others, for the follow-up work of parts of the seminar, for the independent work on contents or as a textual basis for seminar units and presentation preparation.

The further education wiki

In the wiki one can find the contents of the e-learning module that is used as a starting point by the lecturers for working with the students. A component of every course is the introduction of how to work with the wiki. There one can find an inventory list with learning materials as well as a handbook for students with a description of the basic steps. Also for the lecturers there is a handbook available. In a few of the courses, student participation in the wiki is prerequisite for attaining a certificate of active participation, in other courses grade-relevant work is interlinked with working in and on the wiki. 
 

The wiki is implemented within the framework of different courses for the creation of a glossary on the seminar topic, for the summarization of term papers and presentation drafts, for the documentation of project work, as research possibilities within the framework of a lecture, for group work and for the presentation of the results.  













Illustration 1: E-learning at the division of Further Education and Educational Management

Experiences made by the lecturer

Depending on the integration into the seminar context there were different levels of usage intensity - some students like to work intensively with the wiki, others just do that what is necessary. Both the students and the lecturers found the wiki to be of additional expenditure. Here it became clear that work routines and sensible teaching concepts were missing and that further development for a strategic, integrated implementation of the wiki and the e-learning module is necessary. Here one can include that the wiki/e-learning module should not be used as a supplement to the face-to-face teaching (with the corresponding added burden), but rather as an integral part of the seminar (blended learning). For the creation of such cross-course projects the competence development of the lecturers (e.g. training courses) as well as their direct involvement in the development process should be focused on.   

Further information

Support offered by CeDiS

  • Consulting services for the implementation of digital solutions in teaching: The Center for Digital Systems (CeDiS) has extensive experience of many years when it comes to the implementation of digital media and systems within the fields of teaching, learning and research. We offer a wide variety of consulting services on the implementation of these tools and systems within the entire academic scope and especially at Freie Universität Berlin. 
  • Training courses and workshops: For lecturers at Freie Universität Berlin (professors, employees, tutors) as well as lecturers of other universities CeDiS offers training courses and workshops on the topic of teaching and learning with digital media. These course enable participants to implement online elements within their own sphere of teaching.
  • The Executive Board of the Freie Universität supports e-learning initiatives: With the e-learning funding program financial resources are provided to lecturers that enrich and improve their courses quality-wise by implementing technological and media-related support. All of the academic staff teaching, the lecturers or even the institutions of the Freie Universität - without the Charité-Universitätsmedizin - can be supported within this program.

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