Report: Insights International Teaching and Learning – A peer-to-peer exchange

The workshop “Insights International Teaching and Learning – Ein kollegialer Austausch” brought together international students and academic staff to discuss experiences, challenges, and good practices in international teaching. Professor Markus Westner opened the event and emphasising the importance of improving teaching and learning in an international environment.

International students shared their experiences within the German higher education system, highlighting in particular differences in teaching and learning cultures, language barriers, and bureaucratic challenges. They positively emphasized supportive lecturers, practice-oriented learning opportunities, and the services offered by the International Office. At the same time, they expressed a need for increased interaction in certain courses and for a stronger focus on practical application.

The joint discussions addressed topics such as course evaluation, class attendance, examination formats, and linguistic challenges. A key outcome of the workshop was the recognition that interaction and collaboration between international and local students should be further strengthened.

Overall, the workshop underlined the importance of interactive teaching formats, clear communication, practice-oriented learning opportunities, and dedicated spaces for intercultural exchange. The format demonstrated the value of direct exchange of different perspectives for the ongoing development of international teaching.

Assessment: AI, Exams and Skills

A look back at the 9th Digital Teaching Day

On Thursday 25 September 2025, the Digital Teaching Day took place for the ninth time – this year hosted by OTH Regensburg, which had organised the event in collaboration with the University of Regensburg. Under the theme ‘Assessment: AI, Exams and Skills’, the focus was on current challenges and opportunities relating to digital assessment formats, skills-based learning and the use of artificial intelligence in higher education. Numerous experts, lecturers and interested parties from colleges and universities across Germany accepted the invitation to discuss these forward-looking topics, network and forge personal contacts in person.

Inspiration, discussion and practical relevance

Prof. Dr Birgit Rösel, Vice-President for Studies and Teaching at OTH Regensburg, welcomed the participants after a reception with coffee and tea , thereby opening the Digital Teaching Day. The first thematic presentation was then given by Prof. Dr Dominik Herrmann from the University of Bamberg with his incisive keynote speech ‘Exams and AI: From Symptom to Systemic Issue’. With impressive clarity , he used three practical examples to demonstrate how the availability of AI tools is challenging higher education – and why new examination formats are needed that reveal genuine performance under real-world conditions, ensure equal opportunities and counteract self-deception regarding supposedly acquired skills.

Guided by the overarching aim of fundamentally re-examining examinations and teaching in the light of AI-supported tools, the subsequent guided poster walk provided an opportunity for discussion and inspiration. Participants gained insights into tried-and-tested examples of good practice regarding alternative assessment formats, AI-supported assessment and competence-oriented teaching. In dialogue with the presenting experts, it became clear just how diversely and creatively higher education institutions are already responding to these systemic challenges.

Following a refreshing lunch break filled with stimulating conversations, the afternoon focused on a practical exploration of the event’s theme:

In three parallel workshops, participants engaged intensively with the didactic design of digital learning spaces, explored the potential of large language models – from task design through to assessment – and discussed approaches for implementing competence-based examinations with AI support and digital tools.

 

Conclusion

A final coffee break led into a moderated summary session, during which key insights were reflected upon collectively. The overwhelmingly positive feedback made it clear: the event not only provided valuable impetus for a future-oriented examination culture, but also demonstrated how creatively and responsibly digital technologies can be harnessed to support skills development.

 

Making space for learning.

24 September 2024 – 25 September 2024 | University of Regensburg

The ‘Digital Teaching Day’ (TddL) took place once again over two days at the end of September 2024.

Under the theme ‘Creating Space for Learning’, numerous participants exchanged ideas on the design of a wide variety of virtual and physical teaching and learning spaces. Andrea de Santiago, Head of the Teaching and Didactics Service Centre, found Prof. Dr Richard E. Mayer’s presentation on the effectiveness of virtual reality concepts particularly fascinating: “It’s the same as with all other learning technologies. The learning outcomes are what determine how they are used, not the technology itself.” The joint event organised by OTH Regensburg and the University of Regensburg was very well attended, both virtually and in person.

The first day of the two-day event took place virtually, as is traditional. The keynote speakers, Prof. Dr Bernadette Dilger from the University of St Gallen and Prof. Dr Richard E. Mayer from the University of California, Santa Barbara, set the tone for the programme with their presentations on the development of higher education space design and the integration of diverse virtual reality concepts into teaching.

Following the first keynote speech, the Award for Innovation and Quality in Teaching was presented – also online, via Zoom. After short video clips in which the award winners explained their projects in more detail, Vice-President Birgit Rösel personally presented the certificates. This year, two projects were recognised:

The conversion of the introductory ‘Physics’ lecture for EI 1 to JiTT and PI by Prof. Dr Christoph Höller, and ‘Greater Incentives for Learning through Two-Part Exams and Opportunities for Improvement’, submitted by Prof. Dr Florian Heinz and Prof. Dr Johannes Schildgen.

The aim of the award, which has been presented annually at OTH Regensburg since 2020, is the continuous evaluation and improvement of teaching. In this context, even established structures may (and should) be rethought or questioned; in particular, projects that focus on students and their learning success and experience are supported by the award at OTH Regensburg. Birgit Rösel emphasised in particular: “This award is intended to encourage all lecturers to reflect on their teaching and simply give new approaches a try.”

At the same time, the University of Regensburg’s Teaching Innovation Award was presented to three projects in the categories of examinations, courses and degree programmes.

Numerous examples of good practice relating to concepts and experiences with digital teaching were then presented to visitors in Gathertown, providing a space for discussion. Gathertown is a virtual meeting platform that provides a visually appealing, navigable space for participants. Lively discussions took place in designated areas, with text and video contributions presented directly by their authors.

The second day featured two exciting workshops on the premises of the University of Regensburg. “That’s what makes this concept so special. On the first day, you listen to keynote speeches from all over the world, and on the second day, you get together with like-minded people and exchange ideas in person, face-to-face,” said Andrea de Santiago.

The workshop on augmented and virtual reality in an educational context offered the opportunity to test a wide variety of VR and AR applications and reflect on their use in one’s own teaching. Participants noted that applications simulating a reality that cannot be recreated in the physical world were particularly interesting. A visit to the ISS or working with equipment and materials that are virtually inaccessible in reality can thus become a possibility. Through conversations with eyewitnesses to historical events or canoeing in the Arctic, participants were able to share experiences that would not be feasible in the real world. There was also a critical discussion of the areas of application and challenges posed by this emerging technology.

In the second workshop ,‘Designing Engaging Moodle Courses – Ideas for an Inviting Course’ , Christine Kramel, M.A.,introduced participantsto numerous methods for structuring and designing courses effectively in ELO (Moodle) or GRIPS. From the fundamental question of the target audience and one’s own identity in the design of teaching, through to practical considerations regarding course formats, icons and the effective linking of individual topics, workshop participants were provided with a wealth of resources to help them deliver teaching in Moodle in a way that is both engaging and targeted.

www.tag-der-digitalen-lehre.de

with Prof. Dr Claudia Schäfle, Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences

In this workshop, participants will learn about the SCALE-UP concept (Student-Centred Active Learning Environment for Upside-down Pedagogies) and its potential impact on student learning, experience various collaborative learning activities for themselves, and develop potential learning activities for their students based on their learning objectives, for immediate use in the summer term. As part of the workshop, participants will also gain an insight into how they can provisionally implement the concept in their course, even in a ‘normal’ lecture theatre.