The EdTech Austria Team: Marlene Dietrich-Gsenger

EdTech Austria has been around for almost two years now. We have achieved a lot: almost a hundred members, many network meetings, our first EdTech Summit Austria, we have launched several projects, such as the innovation lab Inter-Di-Ko, and much more. The team has also grown to three committed and motivated women. And now we would like to introduce you to the people behind all this work.

Do you already know Marlene Dietrich-Gsenger?

Marlene is the “old hand” in the EdTech Austria team – for almost a year she has been putting her heart and soul into digital education in Austria and was, for example, in charge of organising our first EdTech Austria Summit. She is a trained kindergarten teacher and communication scientist. Many of our members already know her and know how much the further development of education is close to her heart. She is also the founder of Maki – Makerspace for Kids.

What is your name?

Marlene Dietrich-Gsenger

When did you join EdTech Austria?

Since October 2021

Describe yourself in three words:

Level-headed, optimistic, creative

Why are you involved in education in general and digital education in particular?

Sometimes I ask myself how it is possible not to get involved in education. Actually, it should be THE topic that concerns us all, since education is one of the most essential factors in being able to react to the current and future crises. That’s why I always wanted to take up a pedagogical profession, then attended the BAKIP, but never pursued the profession of kindergarten teacher. I then studied communication science, but even then I focused on social inequality and media education. I always took my educational background for granted. It was only a few years ago that I realised that I belong to these 7 percent. Equal opportunities and digital education as a foundation for this are the topics that concern me the most. On the one hand, it’s about digital skills, but also about access to education through digital teaching and learning materials.

What is your favourite way to learn?

By understanding the content and trying to explain it to others. I have always learned best in groups, in teamwork, presenting and explaining.

What do you think the school will look like in 20 years?

Apart from good infrastructure – and I don’t just mean the laptop, tablet or whiteboard – the whole architecture has to change. There has to be a lot of wood, healthy materials, planting, open spaces, but also places of retreat. Pupils learn in small groups, there is more flexibility in attendance, individual curricula, more teaching staff and the school of the future is inclusive.

Your first experience with digital education technologies that you can remember?

It was 1998 (when I was 8 years old), we got our first computer at home and I discovered PowerPoint. I was passionate about making PowerPoint presentations with our new computer – on all the topics that moved me at the time. There were presentations about sharks, tornadoes or Britney Spears.

What’s the best way to reach you?

Text, text, text! Whether it’s SMS, teams, WhatsApp or email, the best way to reach me is with a simple text message. In any case, not via voice messages 😉

What else would you like to learn?

Coding!

This is how you can reach Marlene:

+43 5 7599 722 54

marlene.dietrich-gsenger@innovation-salzburg.at