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Your Roadmap to Good Teaching

The Lehrpfade are a practical resource for self-directed learning provided by the ZLE at TH Köln.
Here you will find guidance on how to navigate the wide range of teaching methods available in higher education, practical tools and resources to help you design your learning activities.
For guidance

Theoretical Overview

Gain an insight into the latest topics in higher academic development and practical guidance on how to apply them in your own teaching. From the theoretical foundations to the latest research in higher education – you’ll find reliable information here.

Step by step: developing a good teaching strategy

The Lehrpfade take you through the entire process of designing and planning your courses, from learning outcomes and the method selection right through to evaluation.

Good Practices

Get inspired by good practices. Our testimonials show how other educators have managed specific challenges in their teaching.

Looking for something specific?

Use our keyword search to find specific content.
Latest content
Illustrative header in shades of orange and purple. Shows an abstract table with a laptop; in the background, in the center, is a document with a list.
Activate Artificial intelligence Lesson Planning

Teaching Impulses: Promote AI Skills

Higher education is undergoing a transformation: generative AI systems are rapidly changing…
The THKI logo on a white background. The bottom edge is bordered by a red stripe.
Artificial intelligence

The Model is the Message

THKI Chat doesn’t offer you just one model, but a whole range…
Google Gemini’s user interface, with the chat window in the centre.
Artificial intelligence Digital Self-study

Personalised learning aid with Google Gemini

As a multimodal AI assistant, Google Gemini helps users work productively and…
More Posts
PLANNING
Featured image: Student working on an electronic experiment setup

How competence orientation succeeds in teaching

Competence-oriented teaching focuses the entire learning process on guiding students in the actual application of their knowledge. Learning Outcomes are defined in such a way that, in addition to mere subject knowledge (knowing what), its application, further development, and use (knowing how) are also integrated into the teaching. From the beginning, fair and valid assessment…
IMPLEMENTATION
Cover image

Carrying Out Your COIL Project

Once your course and institutional partner are confirmed, it’s time to co-develop your COIL project. In this phase, you and your partner will shape the course structure, activities, and timeline: What content will you cover? What kind of student collaboration is appropriate? And how can the courses at both institutions be meaningfully aligned? The goal…
REFLECTION
A photo of a desk with pens and books on it and a laptop sitting on it. The laptop screen displays the word “Scholarship,” surrounded by various symbols related to higher education. Two hands are resting on the keyboard.

Researching your own teaching with SoTL

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is an approach to researching one’s own teaching. With SoTL, you can make a significant contribution to advancing teaching practice through your scientific findings.
EVERYDAY TEACHING
Abstract group of crowded colorful people illustration. Generativ AI

Open thinking, networking, and developing joint solutions at HIP

The University’s Interdisciplinary Project Week is an established digital format for interdisciplinary collaboration beyond faculty and subject boundaries. Students learn to operate in heterogeneous teams and develop an understanding of methods from other disciplines. Their task is to develop a project idea thematically linked to the respective Science Year. The central element is the methodically…
THEORIES AND METHODS

COIL: Internationalize Your Teaching Through Virtual Collaboration 

Looking to bring global perspectives into your lectures—without organizing a study abroad program? COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is a flexible and low-barrier way to internationalize your teaching. By teaming up with an international partner, you guide students through shared, virtual projects that build intercultural skills, digital fluency, and subject knowledge. This page introduces a…
TOOLS
Teaching strategy

Your Roadmap to Good Teaching

About our services

The Lehrpfade are a practical resource for self-directed learning provided by the ZLE at TH Köln.
Here you will find guidance on how to navigate the wide range of teaching methods available in higher education, practical tools and resources to help you design your learning activities.

Theoretical Overview

Gain an insight into the latest topics in higher academic development and practical guidance on how to apply them in your own teaching. From the theoretical foundations to the latest research in higher education – you’ll find reliable information here.

Step by step: developing a good teaching strategy

The Lehrpfade take you through the entire process of designing and planning your courses, from learning outcomes and the method selection right through to evaluation.

Good Practices

Get inspired by good practices. Our testimonials show how other educators have managed specific challenges in their teaching.
For guidance
Search

Looking for something specific?

Use our keyword search to find specific content.

Latest content
The Media Office's green-screen studio at the Deutz location, equipped with a camera and microphones
Digital Lesson Planning Video
Create Educational Videos (or have them created for you)
Moving images, if put together well, can often be timeless. Die Sendung mit der Maus (The Show with the Mouse) or Löwenzahn (Dandelion) have shown that videos also work very well when teaching skills. In this guide you will find out which possibilities you have for your own educational/instructional videos and why you—in part—already have…
The transgender symbol on a colored background.
Accessibility Diversity
Gender diversity in university teaching
As a teacher, how can I create a teaching and learning space where everyone feels comfortable? There is certainly no universal solution to this problem. However, engaging with diverse identities and one’s own stereotypes can dismantle discriminatory structures and unconscious preconceptions. In the following article, you will learn how to ensure gender-sensitive teaching.
Decorative image. Geometric shapes, arranged in a gradient of colors, incorporate symbols from digital learning platforms and extend horizontally across the image.
Communication Digital Learning Management System
THspaces, ILIAS, or MS Teams? An overview of teaching and learning platforms
Are you wondering which teaching and learning platform is right for you? You are not satisfied with your current platform and are looking for an alternative? Do you want to combine the best functions of two platforms and don’t know how? This article provides an overview of the interaction between the existing teaching and learning…

You might find this interesting

Accessibility
Activate
Artificial intelligence
Collaboration
Communication
Competence orientation
Digital
Diversity
Exam
Feedback
Hybrid Teaching
Information Search
International
Learning Management System
Learning Outcomes
Lesson Planning
Media production
Open Science
Pattern
Podcast
Portfolio
Presenting
Projects
Research
Self-study
Software
Transfer
Video
Wiki
Writing

Learn more. Teach better!

You might be interested in this content. Articles and instructions on digital tools and good practice examples with a high didactic effect.

PLANNING
Teaching Impulses: Promote AI Skills
Higher education is undergoing a transformation: generative AI systems are rapidly changing academic work, assessment formats and the skills required for higher education. As teachers, you are called upon to equip students not only with the technical skills but also with the ability to critically engage with AI. Students should be empowered to use AI…
Motivation in teaching
Motivation is crucial for successful teaching and learning. But how can students be inspired to participate actively and independently in challenging learning processes? An effective didactic framework is necessary to encourage lively discussions and avoid passive behaviour. Key aspects include, for example, using a variety of methods, promoting personal responsibility and creating a motivating learning…
Accessible teaching
Accessibility improves your teaching! This fact is often forgotten because the focus is on the presumed additional expense. Besides, there do not seem to be any students affected in your course anyway – so the topic cannot be that important. In fact, you can create accessible conditions more easily than you might think. This will…
Gender diversity in university teaching
As a teacher, how can I create a teaching and learning space where everyone feels comfortable? There is certainly no universal solution to this problem. However, engaging with diverse identities and one’s own stereotypes can dismantle discriminatory structures and unconscious preconceptions. In the following article, you will learn how to ensure gender-sensitive teaching.
IMPLEMENTATION
Trello
Trello is a project management tool. It visualizes tasks, to-dos and projects in lists and cards. Cards can be annotated with a description, a checklist, a due date, labels, attachments and comments.
Zoom Whiteboard: Collaboration made easy
At TH Köln, lecturers, students and staff can use Zoom Whiteboard free of charge. It is particularly well suited to interactive formats and group work: whether in online courses, workshops, brainstorming sessions or project planning – the whiteboard helps to organise ideas clearly and creatively.
Adobe Express
Create creative content with Adobe Express – from presentations and flyers to videos and social media posts. Adobe Express also includes generative AI tools. We’ll show you how to make the most of Adobe Express’s wide range of features.
Adobe Podcast
Adobe Podcast is an AI-powered web platform for professional audio recording and editing. It is suitable for both beginners and professionals in this field. At the tool’s core is the ‘Studio’, where users can record professional podcasts, directly in their browser – either on their own or with guests joining remotely. With Adobe Podcast, audio…
REFLECTION
Reflection & Evaluation in COIL Projects
In the final phase of a COIL project, students come together, present, and reflect on their results. They look back on their academic insights as well as the experience of international collaboration, making their joint achievements visible. At the same time, instructors evaluate the project academically, organizationally, and interculturally. This phase is essential for ensuring…
Peer Tutoring – Students Support Students
With peer-to-peer tutoring from students for students, the services of the Writing Center have been expanded to include a particularly low-threshold format. But what exactly is behind it – and how does peer tutoring complement the teaching and learning culture at TH Köln?
How to transfer Good Practices
Didactic design patterns (also known as patterns) document good practices in teaching. They are based on experience gained from teaching practice. The structured form of patterns allows tried and tested solutions to recurring problems to be described and published in an easily understandable way. As a result, they make good practices visible and offer a…
Feedback in teaching
Since John Hattie’s meta-study “Visible Learning” was translated into German in 2013, one topic has become an integral part of the debate about our education system: feedback. But what is feedback and what is not?
EVERYDAY TEACHING
Open thinking, networking, and developing joint solutions at HIP
The University’s Interdisciplinary Project Week is an established digital format for interdisciplinary collaboration beyond faculty and subject boundaries. Students learn to operate in heterogeneous teams and develop an understanding of methods from other disciplines. Their task is to develop a project idea thematically linked to the respective Science Year. The central element is the methodically…
Arrival

TH Köln
Center for Academic Development
Location Köln-Mülheim
Schanzenstraße 28
51063 Köln

Contact

E: lehrpfade@th-koeln.de

Service

Notes on accessibility
About us
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Disclaimer

Translation of web page financed through ADaePT project which was funded by BMBF and supported by DAAD.

CC BY 4.0Unless otherwise stated, the text and graphics on this website are licensed under the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0.

Center for Academic Development www.th-koeln.de/zle

We appreciate your feedback!

When developing this offer, we tried to include you as a teacher in advance. We would therefore be delighted if you would help us to further improve our offer. Please let us know what you would like, what bothers you or what you particularly like.

Would you like to contact us directly? Then write to us at lehrpfade@th-koeln.de!