Practice-oriented approach to collaboration

The cooperation between the University of Passau and the Leopoldinum Grammar School uses the expertise of students from the university to go directly into the school classes and offer individual support there. In recent months, around 40 students have visited the Leopoldinum Grammar School on three afternoons to provide support to around 60 school pupils in small groups of two to five participants. This individualised tutoring enables the pupils to address specific questions and challenges that may arise when writing their seminar papers.

Structured learning units for sustainable learning success

The collaboration is divided into several learning units that build on each other and provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific work process. In the current winter semester 2024/25, the focus is on helping students find and formulate topics. The students help the school pupils develop a challenging subject-specific question and problem statement that serves as the basis for their individual seminar paper.

The learning units are structured as follows:

1. Unit 1 – Topic identification and formulation: In this first unit, school pupils learn how to use GenAI and LLM assistants to develop relevant and challenging questions for their seminar papers. The use of AI opens up new perspectives and approaches that foster pupils' creative thinking.
2. Lesson 2 – Literature research and analysis: This unit teaches school pupils how to use modern GenAI and LLM tools effectively to research literature. The students show them how to find relevant sources, analyse them and create a correct bibliography. This is particularly important to ensure the scientific integrity of their work.
3. Unit 3 – Writing and language support: In the third unit, school pupils learn how to use GenAI and LLM tools to support them in writing their seminar papers. The focus here is on optimising writing style and proofreading to further improve the quality of their work.

Developing skills and critical thinking

The aims of this cooperation go beyond mere support with seminar work. School pupils should also be empowered to critically reflect on the opportunities and limitations of the technologies used. They learn to evaluate various GenAI and LLM tools and to integrate them profitably into their work process.

In addition, close cooperation with students from the University of Passau promotes a valuable exchange between generations. The school pupils benefit from the students‘ fresh perspectives and up-to-date knowledge, while the students develop their own teaching and communication skills.

Contact person for the collaboration

Dr Tamara Rachbauer is the main point of contact for this collaboration. She contributes her expertise to the initiative and ensures that the school pupils’ needs and the teachers' goals are optimally aligned.

Looking to the future

The cooperation between the University of Passau and the Leopoldinum Grammar School will continue in the summer semester of 2025 to support the school pupils in their learning process. This contemporary initiative is a prime example of how educational institutions can develop innovative approaches to meet the demands of an increasingly digitalised world.

The integration of AI-supported learning into the classroom is designed not only to improve the quality of school pupils' seminar papers, but also to prepare them for the challenges of academic life. With this collaboration, the University of Passau and the Leopoldinum Grammar School are sending a strong signal about the future of education and the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation.