DigiSchool – (Word-based) digitalisation platform for schools

What was the goal of the project?

The research project DigiSchool aimed to develop a digitalisation platform for schools that enables learning content to be automatically digitalised and prepared without programming knowledge. The core innovation was a software engine that completely decomposes Microsoft Word templates into individual elements and converts them into digital content (PDF, HTML). This was intended to reduce the workload for teachers and enable optimal learning for students.

Project duration: 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2021

What were the three biggest risks?

• It was unclear whether algorithms could be developed that reliably and without human intervention convert Word and Writer documents into a generic XML format.

• There was uncertainty as to whether a generic XML format could be developed that would enable automated transformation into PDF/HTML.

• Both points were considered project termination criteria. To minimise risk, experienced personnel were employed.

What was the result of the project?

The result of the project was a demonstrator for a digitalisation platform that enables learning content from Word templates to be automatically exported into PDF and HTML formats. This allows for a significant reduction in teachers' workload and promotes barrier-free, adaptive learning.