Train-the-Trainer: “Learning in Networks” – Designing Innovative Support Services

The Train-the-Trainer program of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung and the FernUniversität in Hagen supports and accompanies multipliers in central and decentralized support structures in the implementation of new formats in their institutions. The application is completed. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found in our FAQ.

Since the winter semester 2019/20, studies, teaching, and university didactic continuing education have largely taken place online. A large space for experience and experimentation has been opened up at German and international universities, providing new perspectives on the future of teaching and continuing education. The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung and the FernUniversität in Hagen have entered into a collaboration to share the experience gained in recent years and the expertise gained in various projects (e.g. The Hagen Manifesto on New Learning, hackathons, community-based online courses).

Target group

The target group is employees in (centralized and decentralized) support structures for digitization in teaching and learning who carry out strategic networking and/or qualification measures for teachers at their universities. People with or without previous knowledge can participate.

Program Goals

As part of the train-the-trainer program, participants learn various formats for self-organized work as well as learning in networks. You will develop your own university- or association-internal networking and/or qualification measures and have the opportunity to further develop them in small teams. Based on this, they independently derive ideas for implementation. After active and successful participation, the participants created a project plan and took the first steps towards implementation.

In the Train-the-Trainer program, we guide participants in planning an offering at their own university with the following features:

• Learners are responsible for their own learning;
• they enable self-organized learning with individual objectives;
• they provide a methodical structure;
• they enable learning in a group;
• they can be digital, present and/or hybrid;
• they are scalable.

In the train-the-trainer program, participants choose one of the following formats to implement at their own university:

1. Makerspace: A makerspace is an open, creative space for university members to try out tools and methods and implement their ideas.
2. Collegial consulting: Collegial consulting is a method in which hierarchically equal persons support each other in solving concrete problems or issues from everyday university life.
3. Learning communities: The participants of a learning community pursue common interests, goals and/or topics and benefit in peer exchange from the knowledge, individual experiences and perspectives of each member.
4. Hackathons: At a hackathon, different target groups gather to work collaboratively on the (further) development of innovative programs and topics within a short period of time.

Schedule and content focus of the train-the-trainer program:

Program information

• The program is 11 weeks long (04/25/22 – 07/04/22).
• Six content modules (6 hrs./module) are offered.
• Each module is two weeks long and begins with a one-hour live online session.
• The program starts with a kick-off and ends with a wrap-up (30 min. each).
• Participants work in learning networks.
• Individual feedback is provided in the form of a consultation session (1 hr).
• Optional participation in the train-the-trainer ideas conference expected in September 2022 (possibly attendance).
• Total Workload: 33 hours (44 AE)

Module sequence

Each module is composed of the following elements and spread over a two-week period. Expect a workload of 6 hrs/module.

1. Live online sessions and topic introduction (1 hr. per module).
2. Independent work on own concept (3 hours per module)
3. Exchange in the learning network (1 hour per module)
4. Independent documentation of interim results (1 hr. per module).

Certificate of attendance and award

• You are eligible to receive a personal certificate of attendance if you actively participated in the Train-the-Trainer program.
• The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung awards each university/institution with a “badge” after successful participation.
• For the Train-the-Trainer program “Learning in Networks” 33 ePoints can be earned in the HFDcert. HFDcert is the HFD Community Certificate, through which you can have activities and competencies in the area of digital teaching and learning recognized by the community and documented in an online portfolio. Information about recognition on HFDcert can be found here.

Costs

Participation in the complete train-the-trainer program is free of charge.

Participating universities

• Braunschweig University of Technology – Co³Learn – Communication Cooperation Collaboration
• University of Applied Sciences Erfurt – Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Center for Quality
• FH Aachen – Center for Higher Education Didactics and Quality Development
• Justus Liebig University Giessen – Center for Teacher Education (ZfL)
• Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg – Joint project eSALSA
• University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein – Lecturer Service Center
• University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein – “HySkiLab” project
• Koblenz University of Applied Sciences – Department of University Development, Team 2: Learning Competence
• Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – Service Center University Didactics and Teaching Support
• Hochschule Ruhr West – Department of University Didactics
• Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Center for Quality Improvement in Teaching and Learning
• Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt – Staff Development and Continuing Education Office
• Karlsruhe University of Education – Institute for Computer Science and Digital Education
• Ulm University of Technology – Prof 4.0 research project
• University of Greifswald – Digital Teaching Area
• Friedrich Schiller University Jena – Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research (ZLB)
• Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg – Continuing Education Center for University Teaching (FBZHL)
• Cologne University of Applied Sciences – ZLE – Center for Teaching Development
• Wildau University of Applied Sciences – Department of University Didactics
• University of Mannheim – Center for Teacher Education and Educational Innovation (ZLBI)
• Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg – Department of Innovation and Quality in Teaching (IQ)
• Bauhaus University Weimar – eLab, eTeach Network Thuringia
• University Didactic Center Saxony – Project HDS.Forum Teaching
• HTW Berlin – Lecturer Service Center (LSC)
• htw saar – Project “DIGITAM
• Bielefeld University – Center for Teaching and Learning