When designing digital teaching, a distinction is made between synchronous and asynchronous teaching:

In asynchronous teaching, the focus is on the presentation and preparation of teaching content and materials (e.g. for lectures and to convey theoretical content). Learning and teaching take place at different times, for example by recording lectures or making content available in the form of videos or podcasts. Learning objectives and materials are worked on by students in self-study or in groups. With this format, care should be taken to ensure that the materials are organised sensibly according to learning objectives and are easy to understand. Lecture slides can be set to music using various programmes for better illustration. Short instructional videos are well suited for conveying complex content. It should also be quick and easy to get support and ask questions.

Synchronous teaching means that teaching and learning take place at the same time. An example of this would be holding a seminar in an online conference room.

In general, face-to-face events are preferable to the digital format for seminars and most lectures. However, office hours or online appointments can be offered to accompany certain topics, for example, which allows for flexibility in terms of time and does not require additional room bookings.

Blended learning formats can achieve particularly good learning outcomes for students. This involves a closely interlinked combination of digital teaching content and face-to-face sessions, which can be customised for each course.