Digital teaching and CyberFestival The Media Lab is up and running

What do the human voice, a slide projector and an AI chatbot have in common? All three are tools used in teaching at Technische Universität Braunschweig. While there are established teaching practices for traditional media such as the voice or the blackboard, many aspects of the use of digital media are still unclear, especially when it comes to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence or virtual reality. A media lab has been set up in the old building to enable teachers, staff and students to try out didactic scenarios and methods of digitally supported teaching and digital work. The experimental space is used and supervised by a team from the project house, which also developed it.

The week began with an official ceremony with the Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Knut Baumann, as well as the direct project participants and cooperation partners. Photo credits: Stefan Böhme/TU Braunschweig

Svante Kerstingjohänner from the Institute for Building Climatology and Energy in Architecture (IBEA) gave a short presentation on the implemented measures from a sustainability perspective. Photo credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

The Media Lab team presented the planned offers and contact persons. Photo credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

The red ribbon was cut as a symbolic inauguration: from left to right, Philipp Preuß and Julius Othmer from the project house, Bettina Nöhren, Facility Management, Vice President for Studies and Teaching Prof. Knut Baumann, and Helmut Streiff, sponsor of TU Braunschweig. Photo credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

Visitors were able to find out more about the Media Lab at various stations. Photo credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

On 20 and 21 November, the Media Lab hosted a CyberFestival for the first time as part of the KI4ALL project. The event will take place annually in the future together with the University of Rhode Island and is an international cultural event on media and AI. At the start of the event, student start-ups presented their product ideas. Marlo Pietrantoni (left) and Majid Abdul Razzaq presented their concept ‘LifeGuard Solutions’. Photo credits: Christine Linne/TU Braunschweig

In addition to the content-related contributions, the focus was also on cultural performances. These took place live on site at the Media Lab, here with the duo ‘Marce & Jerry's’. Photo credits: Stefan Böhme/TU Braunschweig

The programme also included a short film programme, curated by Fabian Brümmer, a photography showcase and, as can be seen here, a gaming tournament. Photo credits: Stefan Böhme/TU Braunschweig

For example, as part of a trial run that began in April this year, the Media Lab held a spring school with students and offered several training sessions on the new AI toolbox at the Gauß IT Centre as part of the KI4ALL project. Just over 700 people have already got to know the Media Lab in this way.

With the official opening of the Media Lab in mid-November, three open days offered a variety of opportunities to meet the team, the space and the services of the Media Lab. The opening ceremony was attended by the Vice President for Teaching and Learning, Professor Knut Baumann, and the project participants. Afterwards, all visitors were able to find out more about the Media Lab at various themed stations. The focus was also on the Media Lab’s existing collaborations with the KI4ALL and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Extended Realities in Education (INTERXR) projects, as well as with the Multimedia Department of the Gauß IT Centre.

Media technology in action at the international CyberFestival

To see the Media Lab and media technology in action, a visit to the CyberFestival the following week was the perfect opportunity. Co-organised with the University of Rhode Island, the event was a first of its kind, showcasing media projects from students across a range of disciplines. The programme included start-up presentations, photographic art, a film programme, discussion panels on social media, musical performances and a gaming tournament.

The first highlight for 2025 has already been set: on 13 May, the Media Lab is organising a partner stage for TU Braunschweig at the University:Future Festival, the largest event on the (digital) future of academic education in the German-speaking world. The programme includes topics such as AI, future skills, didactics and strategic processes.