At the BvLB Vocational Education Congress 2024: does AI revolutionise lesson planning?

On 21 and 22 November 2024 the Vocational Education Congress of BvLB took place in Berlin under the motto "Shape the Future". The focus was on the challenges of vocational education and the question how innovative solutions can be designed. Experts and specialist representatives from different areas came together to jointly develop new ideas and enter into dialogue with guests from politics, business, school administration.

There was an exciting, future-oriented programme with keynote speakers, panel discussion, backstage talk and walk & talk with many opportunities to exchange. In thinking spaces participants could actively engage and bring in their perspectives.

One of the thinking spaces dedicated itself to "teaching and learning concepts of the future". Prof. Dr. Markus Dormann from IB Hochschule led through the latest developments of vocational education and illuminated the chances and limits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching-learning processes as well as digital examination formats.

We use the opportunity to dive somewhat deeper into the topic and ask Prof. Dr. Markus Dormann a few questions.

AI and lesson planning: You presented the didactic AI approach "Luke" you developed. Can you briefly explain how "Luke" specifically supports lesson and competence modelling? – With the didactically optimised Large Language Model "LUKE", we use Artificial Intelligence to model competence-promoting teaching. We are thus able to realise planning processes for building action competence more easily and use the AI's capabilities to better integrate competence orientation into teaching and lessons.

AI in education and ethics: You emphasised that the ethical design of AI in education plays a central role. Which ethical challenges do you see, and how can they be handled in practice? – Various aspects must be considered: sensitive handling of learner data and data protection, responsible integration of AI into work worlds, and responsible coexistence of AI in professional fields. Currently the research field develops very fast, and it is important not to lose touch in the ethical area. A very important task that will demand much of us in the future.

Practical examples and perspectives: You mentioned that you presented one of the most modern Learning Management Systems (LMS) with nu.education. Can you give us an example of how AI and digital examinations are successfully used in this context, and what future perspectives do you see for the use of AI in schools and vocational education? – nu.education is very far in implementation, e.g. regarding question design with AI support. The topic of digital exams is yet another field; here different development strands run. Beyond technical modelling, didactics must develop new competence-based question formats. Technically we are already at a point that would allow completely flexible examination – any time, anywhere, anyhow. The implementation in institutions will, however, still take some time.

We warmly thank Prof. Dr. Markus Dormann for his exciting insights. The Vocational Education Congress 2024 again showed how important exchange about future topics like AI and ethics is for designing an innovative education landscape.