Three questions for “People With An Agenda”

“WE NEED ALTERNATIVES TO ZOOM AND THE LIKE THAT ARE EASY TO USE AND SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT WITH EXISTING TECHNOLOGY!”

Prof. Dr Joachim Knaf

What innovations in Education are you developing, and what motivates you to do so?

Joachim Knaf: Online teaching is usually carried out using tools such as Zoom or Teams. However, these tools are hardly suitable for teaching and learning interactions, as students’ attention spans and concentration begin to wane after just a few minutes. We therefore need alternatives to Zoom and similar platforms that are easy to use and can be implemented simply with existing technology. For example, a holographic box in which digitised lecturers can interact with students in real time and at life-size.

In what way does your innovation help students to become responsible designers of the future?

Joachim Knaf: In its current form, online teaching encourages a ‘lean-back’ attitude. Students simply sit back and listen to one-way webinar presentations without actively participating in the course. With the new interactive technology, students can get involved and immediately experience the added value of their engagement.

How can other lecturers benefit from your innovation?

Joachim Knaf: The research project enables lecturers to make use of the technology and infrastructure. Furthermore, alongside the technology, the teaching concepts are also being developed to serve as a blueprint.

Your teaching philosophy at HM in three words:

Change is possible.

In his doctorate, Prof. Dr Joachim Knaf examined how the film production process can be fully digitised. Since 2014, he has been a Professor of Innovation on the Technical Communication degree programme, where he conducts research and teaches on the topics of media production, immersive media and computer-based learning.