Curriculum 4.0
Universities have the obligation of preparing students for a future shaped by digitality, with myriad complex consequences. Developing competences to address a rapidly changing society for unanticipated technological, demographic, environmental, and political changes needs to be a priority for future leaders in all sectors. In the field of education, equipping future teachers to address a digitally-mediated communicative and collaborative landscape requires the development of sophisticated digital literacies about and via digital tools and media. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia in cooperation with the Stifterverband and Digital Higher Education NRW, Curriculum 4.0 funds the development of university curricula to prepare students for their future.
At the TU Dortmund, the German and English Departments of the Faculty of Cultural Studies have been awarded monies in Curriculum 4.0 to develop online and blended learning opportunities for pre-service teachers, strengthening digital literacies through content and delivery methods necessary for teaching in a world where communication is mediated online. All of the materials that are developed will be made available under a CC-BY license.
Digital Backbone
Pre-service teachers preparing for careers in the core languages of German primary, secondary, and vocational schools will have a digitally-mediated option in each module of their subject-related course of studies. Meeting the needs of diverse learners by offering flexibility in how to study, the content of the digital backbone will highlight the digital literacies needed to teaching communicative competence to heterogeneous school populations.
Digital Suitcase
Flexibility for both educators and learners is a primary method for offering adaptivity and individualization that reflects the needs, preferences, interests, and prior knowledge of both those who teach and those who learn. With the development of stand-alone digital modules, university lecturers and professors can expand their own teaching repertoires, guide students to specific topics for remediation or extension, and foster personalized learning opportunities.
Participating professors & lecturers
Sarah Buschfeld
Innokentij Kreknin
Sigrid Nieberle
Research & development staff
Xenia Constanze Meyer
Lydia Wins
Faith Audrey Ziehli
Needs assessment
Relying on data to identify the preferences and prior knowledge of students and staff will enable us to develop curricula and modules that meet real needs aligned with existing competence frameworks. A first analysis of what students know, and what they want to know, can be found in this poster with audio commentary.
Development
Coming soon.
Research evaluation
Coming soon.