Teaching Digital Thinking

Zusammenfassung

Digitalization now covers every area of life. The smartphone is probably the most illustrative example, since it combines innumerable functions. It is not only a telephone, but also a music and video player, a camera, a newspaper or a notebook. Thanks to digitization, we are now able to work, study, teach and research regardless of location. Moreover, digitalization can improve teaching and learning, it can help to widen access to higher education and it can make research results and data accessible.

This development must also be reflected in the teaching and learning process, this is why universities are very important entities in this scenario. They not only accompany the digital transformation, but also contribute significantly to shape it. A central task of universities in the digital age is therefore to respond to the fundamental changes triggered by digitization through digital teaching and learning.

This project encompasses an Austria-wide concept to provide the broadest possible spectrum of students with the skills needed to understand, critically reflect and shape digital transformation. In interdisciplinary cooperation, computer scientists and non-computer scientists develop new content, new didactic methods and prototypes for the teaching of "digital skills".

Everyone understands digital skills in a multidisciplinary way, for example from humanities, cultural, legal, natural or social science perspective. Computer science students need a basic understanding of human, social, legal and ethical issues. The aim of this project is to provide the students with research-led and sustainable skills so that subject-specific previous knowledge, interests and needs are taken into account and linked with digital skills in interdisciplinary cooperation.

The project Teaching Digital Thinking it is part of a larger collaboration with other Universities in Austria. All projects work towards the common goal of shaping the digital transformation: