From September 4 to 5, 2025, media education researchers, teachers and education practitioners gathered for the second conference of the Media Didactics Working Group at the PH Zurich.
Several members of the dig!doc consortium were represented:
- Petra Francesca Weixelbraun, doctoral candidate, who presented the perspective of computational empowerment research in her talk
- Selina Gartner, doctoral candidate, who gained valuable insights as a participant
- Jasmin Wallner, doctoral candidate, who presented her initial findings from the field of information literacy research
- Sonja Gabriel, coordinator, who reported on a research project on AI in lesson planning
Conference topics
Under the overarching conference theme – which was also the title of a moderated discussion session – “Research that Matters – How media education research contributes to the design of education,” scientists, teachers and education practitioners from Switzerland, Germany and Austria engaged in discussion.
The conference venues were not just lecture halls – they were spaces for discourse. The topics covered ranged from artificial intelligence in didactics and lesson planning to information literacy, feedback and assessment, as well as the relationship between theory and practice, and inclusion and participation in digital learning environments. Possible applications of virtual and augmented reality were also presented. Current research findings were discussed in relation to these key topics with a view to possible applications in (higher) education and teacher training.
What remains?
The conference served as a catalyst for reflection, networking and idea development. It provided access to research ideas, conveyed methodological trends and facilitated a lively exchange between science and practice within the media didactics community.
We are already looking forward to the 3rd conference of the Media Didactics Working Group which will take place on September 3, 2026, in Graz.
