Tools to Enhance Digital Learning
Especially in vocational education and training (VET), connecting students with industry professionals can greatly enrich the learning experience. When students interact with externals—such as company representatives, entrepreneurs, or field experts—they gain real-world insights and practise the communication skills they will need in the workplace.
These interactions are particularly valuable in case-based learning. Professionals can offer feedback on student solutions, share their own experiences, and even simulate decision-making processes based on real industry challenges.
To support these moments of exchange, digital tools play a key role. They help students:
- Communicate clearly and professionally with externals
- Present their case findings in a structured and engaging way
- Collect feedback and involve experts in interactive discussions
In this section, you will explore three categories of digital tools that help facilitate student–external interaction during case study work:
- Communication Tools: Help students connect with externals before, during, and after the case study interaction.
- Presentation Software: Support students in delivering clear and confident presentations of their case findings.
- Polling Tools: Encourage active participation from externals and structure their feedback.
You can find a summary of all these tools just below—use it as a quick guide when choosing the right approach for your own teaching.
Overview of Digital Tools for Student–External Interaction
This summary brings together the tools discussed in the three Teach Digi learning nuggets. Each tool supports a different aspect of student–external interaction in case-based learning: from initiating contact and presenting solutions to collecting expert feedback.
1. Communication Tools
Purpose: Support contact and ongoing exchange between students and externals.
Used to:
- Arrange interviews, mentoring sessions, or workplace visits
- Share preparation materials and follow-up questions
- Maintain professional communication throughout the case process
Examples of tool types:
- Email or messaging apps (e.g. for appointment requests or clarifications)
- Video conferencing tools (e.g. for expert interviews or Q&A sessions)
- Collaboration platforms (e.g. to organise shared files and messages)
See more in the learning nugget “Communication tools”
2. Presentation Software
Purpose: Help students present their case findings clearly and professionally to externals.
Used to:
- Communicate solutions in a structured way (problem–analysis–solution)
- Support live or remote delivery with visual aids
- Enable externals to follow and respond to student work
Examples of tool types:
- Slide creation tools (e.g. for collaborative, visual presentations)
- Interactive formats (e.g. with zooming structures or branching flows)
- Screen sharing (e.g. during remote expert feedback sessions)
See more in the learning nugget “Presentation software”
3. Polling Tools
Purpose: Encourage externals to actively engage with students and provide structured feedback.
Used to:
- Let externals vote on student proposals or rank solutions
- Simulate decision-making exercises
- Collect reactions and feedback during or after student presentations
Examples of tool types:
- Live polling tools (e.g. for quick votes or idea scoring)
- Survey tools (e.g. for structured reflection after the session)
- Interactive polls built into presentations
See more in the learning nugget “Polling tools”
This summary can serve as a quick reference when preparing student–external interactions in your own case-based teaching. Use it to choose the most appropriate tool for your goals and teaching context.