KoKI.OWL: Communication with AI: Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness

Digitalization is shaping almost all areas of society, including how we communicate, work, and learn. Studies report promising results for the use of AI—especially Large Language Models (LLMs)—in education, for example learning-related benefits in academic writing, text analysis, or literature reviews. Our innovative teaching concept “KoKI.OWL” combines state-of-the-art machine learning technologies, in particular LLMs, with students’ problem-solving skills. It aims to enable students, working in interdisciplinary teams, to describe various artifacts in natural language within project-based learning so that these can be further processed with AI—for instance to generate software design or business process diagrams. Using natural language supports formalization in software engineering and strengthens students’ communication skills. Students practice communicating technical concepts clearly and improving communication between stakeholders.

KoKI.OWL develops an AI-supported learning assistant that adaptively accompanies students in STEM subjects. The focus is on individually generated practice tasks, tailored learning recommendations, feedback in natural language, and suggestions for suitable learning partners.

The technical foundation is a system combining LLMs, symbolic algorithms, and a language-based dialog system. Students communicate with the AI—either in writing or orally—and reflect on their learning processes individually or in groups. At the same time, instructors receive aggregated feedback and can provide targeted support.

KoKI.OWL is being developed participatorily with students, piloted in multiple modules, and further advanced through a public hackathon. The project combines forward-looking technologies with a strong didactic ambition and contributes to inclusive, scalable, and motivating higher education.