Education platform with translation API

Two European universities and UXMA are participating in a research project on school development in the digital world. A digital platform has been created on which teachers and students work together with a partner school in another language on a project. This includes tasks that are worked on and documented directly on the platform, as well as interactive elements such as audio and video recordings.

Our interdisciplinary project team was able to evaluate findings with all stakeholders and translate them into use cases. Our full-stack front-end developers implemented the mature UX concept. The platform is now entering a one-year test phase at European schools.

At SMASCH, linguistic diversity is seen not as an obstacle but as an opportunity: automatic translation is deliberately not used. We have integrated a translation function using an API, but it has to be used deliberately. Our aim is to raise awareness of linguistic and cultural differences with a view to integrating transnational and intercultural exchange into teaching in the long term.

At the beginning of the year, UXMA was able to build on the findings from the first part of the SMASCH project and, in a short period of time, work with international stakeholders to refine the vision for the platform and solve the technical challenges of transnationality.

Within a short period of time, we were able to turn vague ideas into a platform concept that translates the different needs of teachers and learners into coherent use cases. A particular challenge was that, in addition to teachers, underage students also actively interact on the platform. While complying with all data protection and personal rights, we succeeded in meaningfully integrating them into the platform as part of a group.

A key challenge throughout the design phase was to create a platform that did not focus on individual self-promotion. Instead, schools should present themselves with their respective visions and interests in order to find suitable tandem partners.

The focus is not on finding the greatest possible similarity between the partner schools—on the contrary, it is precisely the differences between the schools that spark curiosity and form the basis for an exciting joint project.