Edu-Lab: Digital Empowerment for Adult Learners (EDAL)

EDU LAB Logo 262x122Logo: EDU LAB

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