beVinuS.nrw: Findings on the use of digital mathematics learning resources

At the end of 2025, the three-year joint project funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia between the University of Wuppertal, RWTH Aachen University, and TU Dortmund University, entitled “Accompanying Virtual Zero Semester at Universities in North Rhine-Westphalia” (beVinuS.nrw), in which an accompanying virtual zero semester was tested at the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at TU Dortmund University. The project focused on helping students refresh their basic math skills in their introductory courses by providing self-tests and digital course offerings.

The learning program, which was accessible via Moodle, was evaluated over three semesters at the IFS in the electrical engineering and information technology and physics degree programs. The evaluation results showed that first-year students with gaps in their prior mathematical knowledge were starting the lectures. At the same time, however, voluntary learning programs such as beVinuS.nrw were hardly used during the semester. Overall, the use of the beVinuS Moodle courses, as well as the use of event-related Moodle courses, reflected a tendency toward event-related usage behavior. For example, a particularly high number of clicks were recorded for the beVinuS attendance tests, mandatory submissions, or shortly before exams. More motivated students tended to perform better in the beVinuS.nrw math tests and made more intensive use of the learning opportunities. In order to better address students with increased support needs, the IFS results are now being used to further develop the learning opportunities.

Further learnings from the project can also be found in the project handbook “How to beVinuS.nrw,” which offers guidance on implementing an accompanying virtual zero semester.

Download: Handbook “How to beVinuS.nrw”