DIRK Dual – Digitales Reflexionstool zur Kompetenzentwicklung im Dualen Studium

Cooperative (work-integrated) higher education offers students a high potential for sustainably developing (future) skills/competences through its different learning spaces in theoretical and practical phases, which can be further exploited by reflecting on and documenting the transfer of knowledge and experiences between the phases in a sustainable way.

The portfolio-based tool DIRK Dual expands the currently strongly activity-oriented practical reports by not only documenting experiences, but also reflecting on them in relation to one’s own professional competences as well as individual personality development. Throughout the cooperative study programme, students develop certain competences or future skills through this systematic reflection and self-assessment. Furthermore, theoretical and practical phases are systematically interlinked throughout the entire student lifecycle, which also benefits teachers and dual partners.

The Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University is testing the use of portfolio-based learning and reflection methods in the dual study programme and is developing the following results:  

• An ePortfolio tool that stimulates and digitally supports the student reflection process throughout the entire student lifecycle.
• A competence development concept that enables an evidence-based self-assessment of (future) skills for the entire dual study programme and combines it with mentoring, coaching and peer processes.
• A learning concept/support concept that also assists instructors in practical phases, mentors and coaches in accompanying students in the development of such competences in the long term.