Operational Processes and Planning in Public Transport: Steffen Dutsch (#SD1)

Brief Description

The “ÖPNV Übungs- und Wissensportal” (Public Transport Practice and Knowledge Portal) is an OPAL course that supports students as they complete modules in the public transport subject area in both on-site and online classes. It provides educational videos relating to the lectures, videos that explain how to solve complex tasks step-by-step, and tests that enable learners to monitor their progress.

Keywords

• Introductory lectures
• Joint exercises
• Progress tests

What makes this gem special?

It features a mix of on-site and online teaching, and various teaching methods are combined (live lectures, video lectures, live practicals, video practicals). Videos supplement the on-site practicals and explain how to complete tasks step-by-step. This means that all students’ needs are met, regardless of their speed or style of learning. Students with a slower pace of learning or who learn better visually can therefore continue to study content until the next on-site class.

Numerous progress tests give students the opportunity to learn basic principles by themselves. These tests are are grouped into different levels of difficulty so that they can be used according to each student’s learning progress. They contain complex tasks with randomly generated parameters which allow students to practice as many times as they like and at a pace which suits them. Some tasks even include case distinctions. This equips students with the skills they need to solve complex tasks independently.

The question and answer forum is well-used and in addition to enabling discussion between students and teachers, it also allows students to answer each others’ questions. Teaching staff are able to see where students still need explanations and at the same time gain student-friendly explanations that they can use themselves in the future.

The course is designed with flexibility in mind and can be held regardless of (pandemic-related) restrictions. In the 2021/2022 winter semester, we were thus able to use the practical and lecture periods for exercises on an ad hoc basis, each with half the number of students, and to offer the lectures asynchronously.

Related links

• OPAL course

Contact

Steffen Dutsch

Organizational unit

“Friedrich List” Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Chair of Rail and Public Urban Transport

Course size

31 to 100 students

Voting ID

#SD1