Digital Teaching Hub Lower Saxony (DLHN), sub-project AI in studies, teaching and examinations

Initial situation and problem definition

The emergence of ChatGPT and comparable AI tools opens up new potentials and uncertainties in studying and teaching. In particular, large language models such as GPT-4 are fundamentally changing everyday university life. Their improper use, for example in examination situations, poses considerable challenges. This creates the need to critically reflect on AI applications, to integrate them in a didactically sound manner and to create confidence in their use throughout the university. This is where the sub-project AI in studies, teaching and examinations, in which the IMW is involved, comes in. It is one of six innovative sub-projects in the joint project Digital Teaching Hub Lower Saxony (DLHN), which strategically promotes the digitalization and cooperation of the 20 state universities in Lower Saxony.

Project goals

The aim of the sub-project "AI in studies, teaching and examinations" is to secure the high educational standards of Lower Saxony's universities even under the conditions of dynamic AI developments. Students should be enabled to use AI technologies competently, reflectively and responsibly. Teachers are supported in the didactically sound use of AI in teaching. Agile project management makes it possible to react flexibly to technological innovations and develop practical solutions for studying, teaching and examinations across universities. To this end, the IMW is developing a prototype for an AI-based assistant (chatbot) that supports students in the learning process by providing problem-oriented knowledge and targeted control of learning activities.

Solution approach

As part of the sub-project, the IMW is developing a chatbot prototype that supports students in project-based learning. The chatbot is geared towards two central learning scenarios: 1) answering content-related questions during project work and 2) the targeted promotion of reflective processes during and after the project phases. The development is based on an analysis of didactic requirements for AI-supported learning support in the university context. Building on this, adaptive functions are implemented that enable individual and needs-based support. In several pilot phases, the prototype will be tested for its effectiveness in terms of learning success and its acceptance by students. Further development will be iterative and data-driven, incorporating user feedback. The aim is to design AI applications that are conducive to learning and actively support students in the learning process. Best practices for the design, use and transfer of chatbots in project-based teaching will be derived from the development and application and systematically prepared for the joint project.

Funding information

The project was acquired as part of Hochschule.digital Niedersachsen and is funded by the MWK (zukunft.niedersachsen).