Es freut uns sehr, dass wir die erste österreichische Präsenzbühne beim University Future Festival sein dürfen und das auch noch mit dem Thema KI-Anwendungen für Hochschulen. Das 3-tägige Programm ist digital komplett zugänglich und auch unsere Bühne am 13.5.2025 wird live in den D-A-CH Raum gestreamt, dennoch freuen wir uns wenn viele auch vor Ort mit uns diskutieren wollen. Zwei spannende Keynotes, Vorträge, Workshops und auch künstlerische Darbietungen erwarten euch.
We wrote a short work-in-progress publication about „Work-in-Progress: Key Prerequisites for IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching of the European University Alliance “Unite!”
Abstract: In the dynamic landscape of higher education, digital technologies are crucial for fostering collaboration and knowledge dissemination. European universities are embracing this shift through “European Universities”, transnational alliances aimed at enhancing academic exchange and innovation. The Unite! alliance, as part of its Erasmus+ project, established the “Community Digital Campus” (Cm.2) to develop a modern digital campus framework. Based on an analysis to identify and document the technological, organizational, and legal needs for such a campus, using desk research, surveys, and stakeholder discussions, key requirements are formulated. Key requirements identified include ensuring interoperability among digital infrastructures, robust decision-making processes for IT, strategic support for existing systems, and addressing budgetary considerations for federated systems.
Reference: Ebner, M. et al. (2025). Work-in-Progress: Key Prerequisites for IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching of the European University Alliance “Unite!”. In: Auer, M.E., Rüütmann, T. (eds) Futureproofing Engineering Education for Global Responsibility. ICL 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1260. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-85652-5_34
Im Rahmen der OPENess Initiative der TU Graz durfte ich die Services rund um Open Educational Resources vorstellen. Hier gibt es noch die zugehörigen Folien:
We wrote an article titled „The Synergy of Educational Technologies and Self-regulated Learning: A Systematic Scoping Literature Review“ that strongly focused on self-regulation in learning. Read more here at the ed-tech.at-Blog.
Abstract: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology necessitates addressing the topic of self-regulated learning (SRL) given its potential for personalized learning experiences. Educational Technologies (EdTech) have the capacity to facilitate SRL within educational contexts, particularly in remote learning scenarios. This study explores the interplay between EdTech and SRL, highlighting their synergistic relationship. Through a systematic scoping literature review following the methodology of Peters et al., evidence from 328 records in the Scopus database was synthesized, with an analysis of 112 reports meeting the inclusion criteria published between January 2015 and February 2024. Zimmerman’s cyclical phases model emerged as the predominant SRL framework in connection with EdTech. Additionally, the identified EdTechs were categorized into eleven clusters based on shared characteristics and mapped onto Zimmerman’s SRL model to create an EdTech-SRL-Synergy-Map. Recommendations are made for future research, particularly in the secondary education sector, and the significance of SRL practices in an educational landscape permeated by AI is emphasized.
Reference: Brünner, B., Burgsteiner, H., Schön, S., Ebner, M. (2025). The Synergy of Educational Technologies and Self-regulated Learning: A Systematic Scoping Literature Review. In: Auer, M.E., Rüütmann, T. (eds) Futureproofing Engineering Education for Global Responsibility. ICL 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1261. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-85649-5_30
Open Educational Resources (OER) are widely recognized for improving access to education and enabling the sharing of knowledge. However, in the context of European university alliances, such as Unite!, OER offer additional, often underappreciated benefits that are crucial for cross-border collaboration and sustainable development in higher education. This position paper explores three key aspects of OER that are particularly relevant for European alliances. First, OER enable the legally secure use of educational resources across national borders, addressing uncertainties about copyright laws, particularly for translations and adaptations. This ensures compliance with different legal frameworks while fostering collaboration. Second, OER support sustainability by ensuring that investments in educational materials are not limited by restrictive usage rights. This is particularly critical in alliances where shared resources play a central role in fostering long-term cooperation and aligning with sustainability goals, a priority for Unite!. Finally, OER contribute to digital sovereignty by empowering institutions and educators to create, adapt, and share resources without reliance on proprietary platforms or licenses. This aligns with the broader strategic objectives of European alliances to promote autonomy and resilience in their digital ecosystems. By highlighting these often-overlooked benefits of OER, this research aims to broaden the perspective on their strategic importance in fostering collaboration, sustainability, and sovereignty within European university alliances.
Ebner, M., & Schön, S. (2025, März 13). Beyond Open Access: Open Educational Resources (OER) for Legal Clarity, Sustainability, and Digital Sovereignty in European University Alliances. Presentation at the Unite! Ed Future Conference, March 13, 2025. Graz University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3217/cz2rm-g9g13
The „Unite! OER Courses“ seed fund project successfully advanced Open Educational Resources (OER) competence among students and lecturers across the Unite! alliance. A major milestone was the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on OER, licensed under CC BY 4.0 International and translated into 11 languages, including Turkish and Indonesian, with the help of AI avatars and tools. Since its launch on May 6, 2024, the MOOC has attracted over 1,200 participants. Additionally, an OER course in English was introduced on the Unite! federated learning management system Metacampus. To further enhance capacity, a dedicated OER training for lecturers was conducted, which resulted in the publication of a collection of tools and methods for future OER training initiatives. In this contribution, we build upon previous work, particularly insights from our project report (Unite, 2024) and various presentations on the topic, including preliminary findings on the impact at partner universities (Schön et al., n.d., submitted for JODDE). Methodologically, we addressed different research questions primarily through a case study, allowing us to analyse the implementation, reception, and institutional effects of the OER initiatives within the alliance. The collected data provides valuable insights for the establishment of a future Unite! Open Science Academy. This presentation will share the project’s achievements, methodologies, and outcomes while addressing challenges and opportunities for promoting OER practices in international higher education settings.
Schön, S., Ebner, M., & Vicente-Saéz, R. (2025, März 13). Building OER Competence Across the Unite! Alliance. Insights from the „Unite! OER Courses“ Project. Presentation at Unite! Ed Future Conference, March 13, 2025. Graz University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3217/hm2aw-dvh27
The Unite! alliance has developed the Metacampus, a federated LMS based on Moodle, to facilitate seamless collaboration and resource sharing among partner universities. This presentation showcases how the Metacampus supports teaching and learning across the alliance by addressing diverse needs and enabling innovative approaches. Key use cases where the Metacampus proves particularly beneficial are outlined, along with resources created to guide users, including detailed documentation, courses, and instructional videos (produced with AI avatars). Activities such as targeted training sessions and the streamlined submission of requests and special requirements via an integrated request form are highlighted. LTI pilot activities, aimed at integrating local LMS systems with the Metacampus, are presented, along with insights from regular E-Learning Support Group meetings. Success stories demonstrate the platform’s impact and potential for enhancing collaboration within Unite!. In conclusion, challenges extending beyond technical solutions are addressed, such as the lack of incentives to adopt Unite!-specific courses or to fully utilize the Metacampus. These insights foster dialogue on how to further support teaching and learning within the Unite! alliance.
Gasplmayr, K., Schön, S., Alcober, J., Ebner, M., & Molins, X. (2025, März 13). The Metacampus as a Teaching Hub for the Unite! Alliance. Presentation at the Unite! Ed Future Conference 2025, March 13, 2025. Graz University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3217/eeqtz-1f759
I was invited for a talk at the „Workshop Open Education & Science Practices 2025“ and gave a presentation titled „Open Educational Resources (OER) at TU Graz / Institutional Integration and development of OER„
Abstract: In the era of transformative technologies, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) offers profound opportunities and challenges for education. This study explores the development and execution of an interactive workshop designed to equip educators with foundational genAI literacy. Using a design-based research (DBR) framework, the workshop leverages interactivity and contextual relevance to introduce genAI concepts, prompting strategies and ethical considerations. Participants engaged in a scripted learning workshop design, comparing human and AI responses, exploring genAI’s probabilistic foundations, context dependency, and vulnerability to manipulation. Conducted across 12 workshops with 191 participants in Austria, this study revealed significant improvements in self-perceived genAI understanding, with 70% of participants reporting better grades in post-assessment evaluations. Feedback emphasized the workshop’s strengths in interactivity and relevance, alongside recommendations for deeper school-specific applications. Scalability analysis showed that workshop duration remained consistent regardless of group size, suggesting potential for broader implementation. The findings highlight the effectiveness of scripted learning workshop design in fostering critical AI literacy, preparing educators to critically evaluate and ethically integrate genAI into pedagogical practices. This adaptable model contributes to the discourse on professional development in AI-enhanced education.
Reference: Brünner, B., Schön, S., & Ebner, M. (2025). From Gretel to Strudelcity: Empowering Teachers Regarding Generative AI for Enhanced AI Literacy with CollectiveGPT. Education Sciences, 15(2), 206. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020206
Im Rahmen des Online-Symposium „Diversität in der beruflichen Bildung“ an der PH Niederösterreich haben wir über unser Forschungsprojekt geredet und Einblicke gegeben unter dem Titel „Bildungsmaterialien für die Aus- und Weiterbildung zugänglich machen: Empfehlungen und Erfahrungen aus Forschungsprojekten zu Accessibility„.
