Since the end of school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the topic of digitization in schools seems to have lost its urgency, particularly in Germany. However, practitioners stress that concerted strategies and digital ethics for the digitization of schools are still needed. Although the push for digitalization has slowed down, some measures brought about by the pandemic have remained in place, such as the use of learning management systems and digital devices. Schools have been developing various digital tools, such as the school education platform, but the lack of a coherent platform from a single source is disappointing to some stakeholders.
One positive aspect is the Ministry of Education’s new project, the “Digital Workplace for Teachers,” which will use open-source software from the public service provider Dataport. The service provider operates in six federal states, and it has taken over school clouds developed by other institutions. While Dataport is currently providing services to various federal states, it is negotiating with Baden-Württemberg over how the platform will be integrated into their existing infrastructure.
While there are distinct benefits to using open-source software, some experts warn that the provision of different platforms is leading to a lack of cohesion, with students potentially using non-secure online communication platforms like WhatsApp or Gmail. The use of third-party providers also raises concerns about data protection. Nevertheless, the continued development of open-source tools like Moodle could establish it as the standard learning management system across schools in Germany.
In conclusion, there have been steps forward in digitizing schools in Germany, but some key factors remain missing, such as a comprehensive digital platform and digital ethics. While the implementation of open-source software is a positive development, care must be taken to ensure a consistent approach to online communication and to prioritize the protection of student data.
