Digital Teaching Concept of the IfB

Digital teaching will be a permanent integral part of university education in the future. It offers many opportunities but also entails risks. For both students and teaching staff, it is therefore crucial that digital components have a reliable and transparent framework and do not conflict with on-campus teaching (Präsenzlehre), either organizationally or in terms of content. Consequently, in consultation with the Student Advisory Board and the Quality Improvement Commission, the IfB adopted a Digital Teaching Concept on December 11, 2024, which will take effect starting in the Summer Semester 2025.

The core of the IfB's Digital Teaching Concept is that digital teaching during the lecture period will be offered exclusively on Fridays or during off-peak hours (from 6:00 PM onwards) to avoid disrupting on-campus operations during the week.

Scope and Validity

• Affected Courses: This concept applies to all digital courses with a planned digital component of more than 25% at the start of the semester. Teaching components are considered "digital" whenever content is not delivered in person and digital media is used for instruction.

• Exemptions: This does not apply to courses that shift to a digital format on short notice for unforeseen reasons (e.g., illness) or courses within the "DigiModul."

• Validity: This concept remains in effect until revoked by the Council of the Institute for Educational Research (Decision of December 11, 2024).

Guidelines for Digital Teaching

Guideline 1: Scheduling

All digital courses must take place during the following times:

• During Lecture Period: Mon-Thu 6 PM – 10 PM, Fri 8 AM – 10 PM, Sat 8 AM – 10 PM.

• Outside Lecture Period: Mon-Sat 8 AM – 10 PM.

Guideline 2: Personal Interaction

All digital courses must allocate at least 10% of the course time (approx. 120 minutes over a 14-week semester) for personal interaction with instructors (including via Zoom). This interaction must be offered at least at three different points during the semester; one of these sessions can take place during office hours.

Guideline 3: Synchronous Input

Synchronous input phases (e.g., via Zoom) may account for a maximum of 50% of the scheduled teaching time. A single synchronous phase must not exceed 180 minutes. After this, other (digital) learning formats (e.g., breakout sessions, texts, reflection, screencasts, or cooperative phases via Moodle or whiteboards) must be integrated.

Guideline 4: On-Campus Availability

For seminars, at least 50% of the offerings for the same module component must be held in person during the respective semester. For digital lectures without an in-person alternative in a given semester, an in-person option should be provided in both the preceding and following semesters. Module coordinators are responsible for ensuring and verifying this availability.

Implementation and Exceptions

These four guidelines are enforceable by students and apply in principle to all seminars and lectures at the IfB.

• Exceptions: Exceptions include courses affected by unpredictable circumstances (e.g., renovations in lecture halls, technical issues, or instructor illness).

• Summer Semester 2025: A special exception applies for this semester, as the IfB may need to rely on a higher proportion of digital teaching due to its relocation.

Contact: If instructors request a higher proportion of digital teaching outside the times specified in Guideline 1, students should first contact the instructor directly, and subsequently the Quality Assurance (QSL) Officer of the IfB (Anita Gerullis).