Background

Since 2020, JLU runs successfully two digital, internationally orientated study programmes, the Virtual International Programme (VIP) and the M.Sc. Sustainable Transition. While the VIP allows students of JLU’s partner universities to participate in selected online courses, Sustainable Transition, offered by the Faculty for Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management is a master’s programme taught completely online.

Founded in 1607, JLU looks back at a rich history of 400 years of lectures and seminars requiring the physical attendance of students. Digital teaching is a very new path for us, and me and my colleges at the IT-department are happy to share our experiences on how to get the endeavour started, with USQ.

Getting Started

Learning how to teach in a digital environment was and remains key to the success of online classes. First and foremost, having a well prepared staff, in front of the camera or working behind the scenes gives everyone a head start.

Working with the Individual

Different levels of digital literacy can be easily overlooked by the well-versed IT-enthusiast. While one academic already created screencasts for their classes for years, others may have delegated all digital tasks or avoided them entirely in the past.

To deal with such differences, JLU set up our team of e-learning experts who create CBTs for academic staff on skills, methods and tools for online teaching. We also offer introduction courses on themes and instruments, digital teaching might include. Video and podcast production, using the local LMS efficiently or structuring the course according to the digital setting are some examples. Additionally we offer support sessions for specific questions the lecturers may have.

To have the academic staff equipped with online teaching skills is great, being able to provide the IT-infrastructure to put these skills into action is even better. To improve access to the necessary tools we are collaborating directly with lectures willing to expand into the digital sphere, supporting them to get the right equipment for their course.

On the student’s side, every participant in an online setting should feel seen and supported. To help students navigate the digital learning environment, we set up a landing page where they can find all necessary information about study programmes, courses, tools, etc. The “JLU-Digital Campus” serves as a guide to the institution, while explaining everything one needs to know about JLU and the German university experience. Additionally a group of e-mentors, JLU-students from a wide range of faculties, support their online-peers and help them not only to be, but also to feel like being part of a learning community.

Community is THE Key

What we learned over the last years is that nothing is more important to the success of online teaching, than community building. The longing for personal interaction is a constant companion in online spaces. Not only the students, but also the lecturers need to be able to find peers for exchange to share experiences, knowledge, and emotions. Creating a well-connected community of practice is not only useful for everyone involved, but also a beautiful way to bridge the distances we encounter.