After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

... reflect critically on the contents and priorities in informatics;
... differentiate and name different ways of thinking and problem-solving approaches in informatics;
... assess the suitability of different ways of thinking and problem-solving approaches for different informatics problems, and to select suitable ones;
... explain the need for critical thinking and reflection in the design of technical systems;
... formulate and discuss critical questions about the contents and methods of informatics;
... criticize and accept criticism.

Ways of thinking in informatics provides an introduction and an overview of computer science from the point of view of their working and thinking ways, thus providing a kind of applied philosophy of science. The course is intended to arouse interest in further studies and to enable students to better classify the content presented in later courses. Students should be able to understand computer science as both a science and a practice, and to implement this knowledge as part of their further studies.

The individual topics are prepared in lectures. In cascaded practicals, the students independently develop in-depth positions on the subject areas. Through the use of double-blind peer reviewing, students see similar work from other participants, and receive reviews from colleagues that help to improve their own work. In a final project students in groups discuss the synergies and conflicts between different ways of thinking in informatics. In accompanying participatory formats such as online discussions, voting and collection of materials, students can contribute to reflect and deepen the contents.

ECTS-Breakdown: 5.5 ECTS = 137,5 Stunden

18 Stunden – Teilnahme oder Aufarbeitung von Vorlesungseinheiten (12 x 1,5)
12 Stunden –  Teilnahme an Diskussionspanels (online) (8 x 1,5)
13,5 Stunden – Stukturierte Beschäftigung mit Lehrveranstaltungsinhalten (9 x 1,5)
25 Stunden – Arbeit am Gruppenprojekt 
12 Stunden Anweseneheit bei Gruppenübungen (tw. online) (8 x 1,5)
27 Stunden Vorbereitung einer Präsentation in den Gruppenübungen
20 Stunden Arbeit an Übungsaufgaben (2 x 10)
10 Stunden Verfassung von und Reaktion auf Reviews anderer Studierender (2 x 5)

Content is presented in lectures by different lecturers, and partially developed by students themselves. In self-organized work, students evaluate the work of fellow students using double blind peer reviewing. The evaluation is based not only on the performance of the exercises, but also on the quality of the reviews. A final group project has to be handed in at the end of the semester and explained in a face to face meeting. 

This course is held in German. To be successfully completed, it requires German at the reference level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. As much of the relevant scientific work is written in English, English is recommended according to reference level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.