Edu-Lab: Digital Empowerment for Adult Learners (EDAL)
Edu-Lab: Digital Empowerment for Adult Learners (EDAL)
Project Duration:
April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2027
Funding Body:
Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre
Funding Line: Freiraum 2025
Project Description:
The goal of the project is to establish an Edu-Lab at the FernUniversität in Hagen.
The lab will enable students of the Master's programme in Educational Science to interactively and collaboratively develop answers to key societal challenges in the context of digital transformation.
Based on media-didactic and andragogical teaching and learning concepts, students will develop media products aimed at adult learners and create a critical counterbalance to market-oriented educational offerings. This contributes to innovative forms of (digital) skills development, self-efficacy, and empowerment for adult learners. The outputs will be designed as Open Educational Resources (OER) to ensure broad usability both within and beyond higher education contexts.
The first Edu-Lab run starts in the summer semester of 2025, with additional project cycles planned for each subsequent semester until the end of the funding period. The lab will primarily be offered online, but may include in-person components depending on students’ needs.
Thematic engagement with key societal challenges, combined with the development of virtual learning modules (e.g., AI-based learning products, interactive learning videos, podcasts, screencasts, virtual sketch notes, and mini-games), will follow a Design-Based Research methodology. Participation is open to students enrolled in the Master's programme in Educational Science, subject to availability.
Project Team:
Participating Departments:
- Chair Adult and Continuing Education /Lehrgebiet Erwachsenen- und Weiterbildung
- Chair Educational Theory and Media Education/Lehrgebiet Bildungstheorie und Medienpädagogik
Project Lead – EDAL:
Dr. Jan Hellriegel
Edu-Lab Leadership Team:
Dr. Jan Hellriegel & Caroline Berger-Konen
Assistants:
Tabea Désirée Bringewatt & Victoria Spönemann
Contact:
Dr. Jan Hellriegel & Caroline Berger-Konen
Email: edulab
