Digital tools for surveys and brainstorming such as Mentimeter are very suitable for classroom units. Students can participate in anonymous surveys, word clouds or quizzes with their smartphones, the results are visualized live and can be discussed together. This method is ideal for introducing a new topic, for example. At the same time, you gain an insight into the students' level of knowledge and can obtain (anonymous) feedback in this way.

Creative tools such as Mural can also be used to visualize contexts or to design digital whiteboards collaboratively (see suggestions for using mural in face-to-face teaching in the Teaching & Learning Academy).
 

An overview of digital tools that can be used to activate students can be found in the Teaching & Learning Academy in the chapter "Tools for Surveys & Quizzes".

In the training courses offered by the Digital Teaching Services you can also find out how digital tools can be used successfully.

The SMART Board® (= interactive whiteboard) can support you in making lessons more dynamic. It can
be used as a chalkboard or whiteboard replacement and offers numerous practical functionalities for vividly sketching content, showing connections and integrating different types of media.

The SMART Board® has a touch-sensitive surface and is operated with the finger or a special pen. It allows you to navigate through web pages and programs, write and draw on digital pages or in applications, and insert, move and change content. Brainstorming, mindmaps, group processes, feedback and much more can thus be mapped on the interactive whiteboard and implemented together with the students.

Note: a SMART Board® is available in all seminar rooms (size 30) at WU. In all other classrooms and auditoriums, you can also use the SMART Notebook whiteboard software on the monitor.

Further information on the use of the interactive whiteboard in face-to-face teaching as well as tips & templates can be found in the Teaching & Learning Academy in the chapter "The interactive whiteboard".

Experience shows that students greatly appreciate being able to listen to and view complex content multiple times. With the FLEX Video Studio and FLEX Audio Studio, WU offers an easy and low-threshold way to create digital teaching and learning materials in the form of instructional videos or podcasts. The teaching and learning materials produced in this way can be embedded in Canvas WU or MyLEARN and thus made accessible to students.

You can access the provided instructional videos or podcasts as needed in face-to-face classes to specifically reinforce content and theses or to use video/audio excerpts as a basis for discussion. The main benefit, however, is that students can use videos and podcasts to independently review and reinforce content and thus prepare for courses, exams, or group work.

More information about the Future Learning Experience Center (short: FLEX Center) with its Video and Audio Studio.

Through casual get-to-know-you methods and group work, you give students the opportunity to engage in conversations and share learning experiences.

Building networks is especially helpful for academic performance. Also offer your students to be available for questions after the course at a less frequented area and to use personal office hours.