Potentials of Digitally Guided Excursions at Universities Illustrated Using the Example of an Urban Geography Excursion in Stuttgart

The main focus of this article is on digital excursion formats at universities and their advantages with and without pandemic-related restrictions on teaching. The development of the application, its didactics and feedback from students are demonstrated using the example of the urban geography excursion developed as part of the 'InExkurs' project at the University of Tübingen. Compared to traditional overview excursions, digitally guided formats allow students more flexibility, autonomy and independence in the implementation. Aspects of gamification and location-based games can be used to increase motivation and, in combination with individual navigation, create associations with scavenger hunts. The use of extended reality on mobile devices enables a diverse application of digital information on site: the use of historical maps and photos as well as the integration of (fictional) characters is exemplified using the developed digital urban geography excursion. The first feedback on the excursion showed that the majority of participating students appreciated the digital format and would like to participate in excursions in this or similar formats more often.