A new hybrid learning room at the University of Innsbruck

The DIGISOC Joint Master’s Programme is an European innovative, interdisciplinary two-year programme that bring together students and scholars from across Europe to explore the relationship between digital technologies and society.

It combines technical knowledge with social science, ethics, law, and policy in a hybrid, international and collaborative learning environment.

A unique feature of DIGISOC is its Collaboratorium for Blended International Hybrid Learning, a new educational concept which combines onsite in-person interaction and collaboration, scaling possibilities of online teaching and student collaboration. The DIGISOC Collaboratorium is both a learning environment made of interoperable digital solutions and a phygital infrastructure (physical and digital) and designed to empower students, enhance a smoothless collaboration in groups and create an associated sense of a learning community.

Discover the DIGISOC Hybrid Learning Room

To support this transformative concept and address its specific needs, rooms at the Awarding Universities are being remodeled and thoughtfully equipped to accommodate various teaching and learning formats.

In particular, the University of Innsbruck proposes a new hybrid learning room with a setup that includes fixed seating with swivel chairs, providing a structured setting for frontal instruction, alongside adaptable workstations designed for collaborative group activities. Each group island is equipped with a screen, ensuring that remote participants can engage fully in discussions.

Great importance is placed on ensuring clear visibility for all participants as well as high-quality acoustic equipment to enable smooth interaction between teachers and learners. Microphones and smart tracking cameras enable remote participants to follow activities in the room effortlessly at all times.

The media technology is pre-configured to facilitate different teaching and learning concepts. For example, users can seamlessly switch between a traditional lecture mode and a group work mode, while soundproofing and noise-insulating structures help minimize unwanted background noise.

To have a nice and welcoming atmosphere in the classroom, the University of Innsbruck equips the DIGISOC room with optimised ventilation and lighting systems, in order to make sure that every student feels right at home while they’re learning.