Human-Centered Technologies for Educational Media
The department researches, develops, and maintains digital infrastructure and tools for educational media research. The research, development and integration of machine learning processes, artificial intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) in the context of infrastructure development are of equal importance to the department as interdisciplinary project-related research in the field of digital humanities. GLOTREC and the Edumeres Toolbox are two of the department’s key infrastructure projects. In addition to the maintenance and further development of digital services, the department also has a systematic monitoring team, which in future will be able to evaluate those services using its own mobile usability lab. The department sees itself as a research infrastructure department and internationally networked player at the interface of the humanities, and information and computer science.
Research
The research conducted by the department is inter-disciplinary and takes place in the interface between the disciplines of information science, the humanities, and computer science. The department has two main research areas which are ‘digital humanities in educational media research’ and ‘artificial intelligence and educational media’. These areas cover the development of new processes and methodologies in computer science as well as the adaption and further development of existing ones. They also involve addressing research questions related to information science systems and usability in order to provide research-based advice, support and implementation in the demand-oriented design and further development of digital infrastructures for educational media research. The department also examines the use and application of digital tools and approaches within educational media research, with the aim of applying these findings to the research, transformation and development process behind digitally supported humanities operations and the planning and implementation of tools suitable for the relevant target groups. In addition, the department translates the needs of educational media researchers for the information and computer sciences, enabling theoretical and methodological research questions to be both generated and answered.
- Research Infrastructures
The department conceives, realises, and maintains digital information infrastructures and tools that fulfil the needs of educational media researchers, using its own research findings as well as data and research findings from the other departments within the Institute. The department also works closely with the IT services team to provide a reliable, modern, and expandable IT infrastructure, focussing particularly on web-based services and infrastructure. The conception, maintenance and coordination of the specific digital information infrastructure required by the GEI research library and the technical library services are also the responsibility of the department, working in close collaboration with the library team. The department is responsible for establishing, consolidating, and operating a systematic monitoring process for the GEI’s digital infrastructures. The department also provides advice on the conception, development and maintenance of the Institute’s digital infrastructure and tools, in order to ensure they can be seamlessly integrated.
