Discovering the university's tools and platforms

Be it the ADAM learning platform to access teaching materials and interact digitally with teachers and other students, Zoom for virtual synchronous exchange in your studies, or Consensus for literature research – the University of Basel offers a wide range of tools for digital learning and teaching.

You will find a list of these tools on the eduTools page. The self-study course UPGRADE your digital skills also has a dedicated module on software for learning. In addition, the resource Getting started with alternative tools provides further recommendations, particularly for open-source programs that students can use. Please note that the university does not offer support for these additional tools.

The University Library provides training sessions for certain important tools, especially in the area of information management – for instance the citation program Zotero or the Consensus literature research platform. You will find a list of all training sessions on this web page.

During your studies, you will also learn about programs and tools that are specific to your subject area.

Using AI in your studies

Be it as a translator, a writing coach or a literature research assistant, generative AI has taken an increasingly important role at universities worldwide. To benefit from this technology, AI literacy and a general understanding of the opportunities and challenges of the AI transformation are important prerequisites. 

Generally speaking, your teachers decide about the way in which AI may be used in each course. AI does not render the principles of good scientific practice obsolete, including transparency and proper sourcing: this is the reason why your teachers may ask you to include a Declaration of independent authorship (PDF) in your work, or to acknowledge your use of AI, as recommended in the University’s guidelines on Citing AI tools (PDF). For more information, the University Library provides guidance and training on citing AI tools.

You will also learn more on how to use AI in your studies in the self-study course UPGRADE your digital skills.

Meeting safety and legal requirements

By protecting your login credentials and personal information, you contribute to the safety of the whole organization. You will learn about the University's main safety requirements in the resource Getting started with digital security.

There are also legal requirements you must meet during your studies, especially in the area of copyright and data protection. Concerning data protection, the general rule is that you must protect any sensitive data you hold about others – for example, information gathered in a research project. In this area, AI tools pose a specific challenge, as many of them are not safe from the standpoint of data protection. Do not input personal data about others into AI tools – not only in written from, but also as images or voice recordings.

You can learn more on copyright and data protection requirement in the self-study course UPGRADE your digital skills.

Studying with multimedia ...

During your studies you will learn using different types of content, from reports and presentations to posters and videos. Teaching content is increasingly provided in video format. While learning with video may seem intuitive, applying a few simple recommendations can make your learning experience more efficient. For useful advice, check out the brochure Using lecture recordings: A guide for students. Apart from teaching content in video format, you may also encounter courses delivered via video conference or in a hybrid format (i.e. both in-person and online). By following a few basic tips in this area, you will contribute to a positive meeting experience. You will find more information on the web page Getting started with online and hybrid meetings.

During your time as a student, you will also yourself produce multimedia-rich content. To ensure quality, it is advisable to observe certain recommendations. The University offers freely accessible resources on various aspects of information design and scientific communication. Useful for many students are these guidelines for the creation of academic presentations and posters.