[presentation] Guiding Innovation with Rapid EdTech User Experience Research Nodes #edmedia #SIG

We also did, as usual, the SIG (Special Interest Group) for Emerging Technologies at the EDMedia Conference. This year the session was titled „Guiding Innovation with Rapid EdTech User Experience Research Nodes

This presentation is from the Special Interest Group Emerging Technologies for Learning and Teaching from EdMedia 2026 conference workshop on Guiding Innovation with Rapid EdTech User Experience Research Nodes (RETURN). It includes supporting resources for the RETURN Manifesto, selected EdTech case examples, and documentation related to rapid user experience research in educational technology contexts.

[Link to the slides]

This is an impactful contributions, methodological rigor, and exceptional novelty in the research field of AI in education.

[presentation] Code Meets Career: Employer Interpretations of Coding Bootcamp Graduates in Austria and Germany #research

Another talk we did at this year’s EDMEDIA conference is about the research of Daniela, titled „Code Meets Career: Employer Interpretations of Coding Bootcamp Graduates in Austria and Germany

Coding bootcamps have expanded rapidly in response to persistent skill shortages in the IT sector and as alternative pathways into the field, particularly for groups underrepresented in technology, such as refugees and women. However, little is known about how these pathways are perceived and valued within organizations, especially in Austria and Germany.
This study therefore examines how companies in Austria and Germany perceive, evaluate, and integrate coding bootcamp graduates. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of five semi-structured interviews with decision-makers in software development, IT consulting, and human resources, the study focuses on socially situated employer perspectives on skills, potential, and legitimacy, rather than measuring effectiveness in terms of employment outcomes.
The findings reveal an ambivalent picture: while graduates are valued for their motivation, adaptability, teamwork, and practical orientation, concerns persist regarding their theoretical depth and level of project experience. In the case of refugee participants, language proficiency is additionally identified as a key challenge. Overall, the study provides exploratory insights into how coding bootcamp qualifications are interpreted and evaluated by employers, rather than aiming to produce generalizable conclusions.

[Link to the slides]

[presentation] Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning in Secondary Schools with Flipped Classrooms: A Systematic Literature Review

Benedikt presented our research about „Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning in Secondary Schools with Flipped Classrooms: A Systematic Literature Review“ at this year’s EDMEDIA conference.

The findings show that FC approaches is promising positive on motivational effects, self efficacy, and participation, particularly among low achieving learners, while emphasizing the importance of effective instructional design and strong teacher support in overcoming technical and organizational challenges.

[Link to the slides]

[presentation] The OER Paradox in Ukraine #edmedia #research

Another presentation at this year’s EDMedia Conférence is about „The OER Paradox in Ukraine

This study analyses the impact of the new Law of Ukraine „On Copyright and Related Rights“ (2811-IX) on the use of educational materials in the context of digital transformation and military crisis. Using the benchmarking methodology „15 cases in 15 countries“ and qualitative interviews with teachers, the work compares Ukrainian norms with the practice of EU countries. The results show that broad educational exceptions (in particular, Articles 22 and 24) create a situation of „legal comfort“ for the academic community, allowing the legal use of protected content in closed digital environments. However, this gives rise to the „OER paradox“: the absence of legal barriers to the use of proprietary resources reduces the motivation to create full-fledged open educational resources under free licenses. The paper highlights the need for institutional incentives to overcome dependence on closed content and integrate Ukraine into the global open education movement.

[Link to the slides]

[poster] A Whitepaper on Evaluating GenAI Innovation in Higher Education #edmedia26

This year, we present a poster about „A Whitepaper on Evaluating GenAI Innovation in Higher Education“ at EDMedia 2026.

Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is increasingly shaping higher education by enabling new forms of content creation, assessment, learner support, personalization, and synthetic media. A whitepaper now presents a practice-derived framework developed through a cross-case synthesis of nine diverse GenAI implementations at Graz University of Technology. Analyzing projects ranging from AI-generated content to RAG-based chatbots, recurring decision points and risk patterns were identified to formulate a five-phase, non-linear evaluation model.

[Link to the poster]
[Link to ResearchGate]

This is an impactful contributions, methodological rigor, and exceptional novelty in the research field of AI in education.

[presentation] Digital Equipment Evolution and IT Activity of TU Graz study beginners (2011‑2025): Challenges of Tablet and AI Dominance for University Digital‑Sovereignty Initiatives #edmedia

Thanks to Benedikt, who will present our paper about „Digital Equipment Evolution and IT Activity of TU Graz study beginners (2011‑2025): Challenges of Tablet and AI Dominance for University Digital‑Sovereignty Initiatives“ at this year’s EDMedia 2026 conference in Edinburgh:

Over the last thirteen years, more than 14 000 freshmen at the Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have taken part in the annual “Welcome Days” surveys. This study analyses the responses collected between 2011 and 2025 to chart the shifting digital profile of incoming students. The results highlight evolving patterns in hardware ownership, social‑media activity, communication preferences, digital recreation, and the utilization of online information sources. Notably, the data reveal a steady increase in the adoption of artificial‑intelligence applications and tablet devices, alongside a decline in the use of Wikipedia and open‑source software. These trends pose significant challenges for TU Graz, prompting the need for initiatives that strengthen digital sovereignty and promote on‑premise hosting of open‑source solutions.

[Link to the slides]

[publication] aicast: Combining AI-Generated and Instructor-Defined Content in Educational Podcasts #research #tugraz

At this year’s ED-Media conference, we introduced a new AI-based concept for educational podcasts: „aicast: Combining AI-Generated and Instructor-Defined Content in Educational Podcasts„.

Abstract:
Generative AI is transforming educational content. In this poster, we present aicast.fyi, an open-source platform for producing personalized educational podcasts that combine AI-generated and instructor-defined content. Each track contains dynamic and fixed segments. Instructors define guiding questions during track design, ensuring alignment with learning objectives. This hybrid approach addresses concerns about maintaining instructional integrity with automation and personalization. The poster provides an architectural overview and demonstrates how the system integrates text generation and voice synthesis to produce audio-based learning experiences. Instructional designers must play an active role in shaping AI-assisted educational tools. This poster invites educators, designers, and researchers to engage with aicast and collaborate on developing high-quality, responsible, and learner-centered audio content. By allowing learners to control content sequences and personalize segments based on their own inputs, aicast.fyi also supports self-regulated learning (SRL), empowering users to take ownership of their educational journey.

[draft @ ResearchGate]
[full article @ conference website]

Reference: Brünner, B., Leitner, P., Geier, G. & Ebner, M. (2025). aicast: Combining AI-Generated and Instructor-Defined Content in Educational Podcasts. In T. Bastiaens (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia + Innovate Learning (pp. 148-152). Barcelona, Spain: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved June 4, 2025 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/226139/

[publication] Understanding the Core of LLMs as genAI -CollectiveGPT and Human Intelligence #tugraz #workshop

At this year’s ED-Media conference, we also did a workshop on „Understanding the Core of LLMs as genAI -CollectiveGPT and Human Intelligence„. Find a short published summary about it.

Abstract:
This workshop provides an engaging and interactive exploration of Large Language Models (LLMs), with a focus on how they operate at a foundational level. Using CollectiveGPT, an educational chatbot developed by the Ed-Tech Research Community Graz, participants gained firsthand experience understanding the principles behind generative AI (genAI) systems such as ChatGPT. Designed for educators of all disciplines, the workshop demystifies key LLM concepts such as probability-based word prediction, contextual understanding, and the role of training data. Attendees generated texts and compare their results with real-time outputs from ChatGPT, highlighting the differences between human reasoning and AI prediction. Key topics include prompting techniques, context framing, training bias, misinformation, and ethical considerations in AI use. Participants explored system prompt injection techniques and developed advanced prompting skills to optimize responses from AI systems. This workshop empowered educators with the knowledge to critically evaluate and responsibly use AI tools in their teaching. By fostering AI literacy, attendees got clear understanding of how LLMs work and how they can be leveraged to enhance learning experiences across diverse educational settings.

[publication @ conference website]
[draft @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Brünner, B. & Ebner, M. (2025). Understanding the Core of LLMs as genAI – CollectiveGPT and Human Intelligence. In T. Bastiaens (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia + Innovate Learning (pp. 153-154). Barcelona, Spain: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved June 14, 2025 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/226329/.

[publication] Workshop for Special Interest Group Emerging Technologies for Learning and Teaching: Exploring Educational Podcasts with AI #tugraz #research

We also did workshops at this year’s ED-Media conference. One of them was titled „Workshop for Special Interest Group Emerging Technologies for Learning and Teaching: Exploring Educational Podcasts with AI“ and followed the idea of open discussions.

Abstract:
How can educators unleash the power of AI without losing control over core educational strategies? In this workshop, we introduced aicast, an open-source platform for educational podcasts that combines the best of both worlds: AI-generated elements for personalization and flexibility, and fixed elements, with instructor-defined content to ensure pedagogical accuracy. This hybrid approach reduces the risks associated with AI-generated materials like hallucinations. Attendees experienced how the platform utilizes LLMs like ChatGPT for personalized content authoring and ElevenLabs for high-quality voice synthesis, enabling real-time creation of educational audio content. After a short demo and hands-on session, participants engaged in a guided discussion: What is the core of an educational podcast? Most importantly from the perspective of an instructional designer, how must an educational podcast be? This session was part of the Special Interest Group on Emerging Technologies for Learning and Teaching at the ED-Media 2025 conference.

[draft @ ResearchGate]
[full article @ conference website]

Reference: Ebner, M. & Brünner, B. (2025). Workshop for Special Interest Group Emerging Technologies for Learning and Teaching: Exploring Educational Podcasts with AI. In T. Bastiaens (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia + Innovate Learning (pp. 1375-1376). Barcelona, Spain: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved June 4, 2025 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/226347/.