Research focus
| The Knowledge Media Research Center deals with questions of knowledge acquisition, its exchange and communication. It uses innovative technologies from the perspective of cognitive, educational, (human) behavioral and social sciences, enriched by a media technology component. Our research focus is on individual and cooperative learning and on institutional and informal learning environments. | Research at the KMRC is divided into the following research areas: Individual Learning with Hypermedia, Cypermedia, and Multimedia as well as Collaborative Learning Scenarios and Internet-based Communication, and Cross-Sectional Activities. Within each research area, multidisciplinary labs deal with specific aspects of superordinate topics. Different research projects are assigned to the respective labs. |
Research areas
Individual Learning with Hypermedia, Cybermedia, and Multimedia
The use of hypermedia, cybermedia and multimedia presents innovative possibilities in the designing of computer-based learning environments . The labs referred to as "Knowledge Acquisition with Hypermedia" and "Knowledge Acquisition with Cybermedia" form a part of this field. These labs deal with the question of how to benefit from the potential of hypermedia and cybermedia formats for different learning scenarios. At the same time, they also deal with minimizing negative influences. Research topics include issues of learner control, adaptive user strategies, learning with visualizations, designing multimedia learning environments, and the support of the learners in their use of these environments. The Junior lab entitled "Knowledge Acquisition with Multimedia" - also a part of this field - deals with fundamental research regarding cognitive and perceptual processes involved in learning with multimedia.
Collaborative Learning Scenarios and Internet-Based Communication
How can we use the potential of digital media for cooperative learning and net-based knowledge exchange? Study objects are mutual knowledge acquisition in traditional teaching, and learning scenarios (e.g., in-class education) as well as in modern scenarios with different qualitative levels (e.g., knowledge exchange in virtual communities). Topics of primary interest in this area are shared knowledge, common ground, enframing virtual communication by interaction scripts, social presence, and collaborative knowledge construction.
Cross-sectional Activities
The WissenschaftsCampus Tuebingen as new institutional development is a cooperant activity connecting the KMRC and multidisciplinary partners from the University of Tuebingen, as well as partners from Freiburg and Mannheim within a broader research network. The topic of the ScienceCampus Tuebingen is "Informational Environment". Projects within this research initiative investigate the interplay between the vast array of informational resources and life-long learning processes.
Principles Guiding the Research Activities at the KMRC
Interdisciplinarity
The KMRC is committed to an interdisciplinary approach and integrates perspectives from cognitive and educational science, (human) behavioral and social sciences as well as media technology.
Combination of Fundamental and Applied Research
The KMRC research strategy comprises fundamental research questions on media-based learning as well as applied research questions of how to implement and evaluate media-based learning in major areas of the educational system (school, university, and continuing education). The participation in transfer and pilot projects plays an important role for the KMRC.
The Role of Technology
At the KMRC, technology-based learning arrangements are primarily seen as socio-technical systems in which personal, educational, social, and technological factors interact with each other. Therefore, research at the KMRC is not restricted to see the innovative and high-performance character of new technologies but first and foremost their accessibility for learning and teaching processes.
Quality Management
Various internal (e.g., publication policy, monitoring of current research activities) and external (e.g., scientific advisory board) quality assurance measures serve to ensure and enhance the quality of research at the KMRC.
Collaboration and International Involvement
The KMRC maintains national and international collaborations with other research institutions. It is member of the German Leibniz Association and is closely associated with the Department of Applied Cognitive Psychology and Media Psychology at the Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen. On international level, the KMRC cooperates with reputable partners within and beyond Europe.