Academic continuing education institutions are increasingly challenged to adapt learning formats to meet the needs of students and create successful learning environments. With increasing digitalization, in-class formats are often complemented by digital and hybrid approaches. This trend offers opportunities, such as greater personalization, but also challenges, including more complex coordination.
Digital transformation is reshaping academic continuing education, blending traditional in-class formats with digital and hybrid options to meet diverse student needs. This integration enhances accessibility and personalization, but also presents challenges, particularly in the coordination of different learning formats. Central to this evolution is the question of how best to support students in these different environments. Artificial intelligence, increasingly prevalent in education, offers innovative solutions to enhance learning. However, it also demands ethical and reflective use, particularly in digital contexts.
Chatbots like ChatGPT exemplify AI's potential as a learning support tool, offering resources, answering questions, and fostering group interactions. Nevertheless, their misuse or uncritical adoption could undermine learning experiences. Striking the right balance between leveraging AI's benefits and ensuring effective, thoughtful application is essential.
How learning patterns impact outcomes
Through qualitative experimental studies with students at the University for Continuing Education Krems, the research investigates how different forms of learning support affect educational outcomes and student well-being. A transdisciplinary approach addresses the learning objectives and broader factors like stress levels and group dynamics. By analyzing these elements, the project aims to provide actionable insights for integrating digitalization into academic education, balancing opportunities and challenges to create meaningful, inclusive learning environments. The specialist expertise of the participating departments enables a synergetic view of the research field from different theoretical perspectives and an interdisciplinary investigation.
Is it All Gold that Glitters? Revealing the Joint Effects of Digitized Teaching Formats and AI Applications on Groupbased Learning in Continuing Higher Education
Duration: 2025-2027
Coordination: Department for Management and Economics
Project lead: Prof. Barbara Brenner
Participating Departments:
Department for Management and Economics , Prof. Barbara Brenner, Andreas Ihl, Assoc. Prof. Markus Wabnegg
Department for Continuing Education Research and Educational Technologies; Prof. Stefan Oppl
Department for Biomedical Research; Assoc. Prof. Jens Hartmann
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