Strategies, Forms of Learning, Virtues
The following hints on the topic of "Studying Digitally" are based on a concept by Prof. Dr. Gabi Reinmann (Hamburg Center for University Teaching and Learning, HUL)
Are you studying online? Take the helm of your online degree program!
Digital courses in your degree program only become educational opportunities through interaction with your personal characteristics, your own approaches, and your willingness and ability to learn.
We suggest a few virtues, a few strategies, and some forms of learning for studying online.
Studying online can be effectively supported if you set yourself a manageable number of rules. In principle, a few individually adaptable STUDY STRATEGIES are sufficient.
There are two simple generic rules to develop (and almost all strategies for stress reduction, motivation, and time management can be broken down to these rules).
You can get a good grip on online studies if you
- structure – and you can and should structure
- time for learning,
- space for learning,
- equipment for learning
- communicate – and you can and should communicate
- with teaching staff,
- with other students,
- with administrative staff, friends, etc.
Two rules are easy to remember and can be expanded upon in various ways at the same time
– experiment with them as often as you can!
Studying online shares great similarities with on-campus studies regarding the necessary mental activities. In the end, what counts above all is your own learning – in many variations, which can be bundled into manageable groups of FORMS OF LEARNING:
In online studies, it is important
- to receive, i.e., to read, listen, and watch attentively, thus becoming knowledgeable in various ways.
- to practice, i.e., to repeat with variation, to train, to apply, thus putting yourself to the test again and again.
- to produce, i.e., to write, to find solutions, to conduct research, thus creating something new using creativity.
Visualize the receiving person as an intellectual (who becomes knowledgeable), the practicing person as a musician (who puts him- or herself to the test), and the producing person as a craftsperson who creates something new.
Be an intellectual, musician, and craftsperson all at once in your online studies!
Studying online is a special challenge. The whole person is challenged. Qualities that we consciously call VIRTUES become important: This is about valuable qualities that any person can develop and that are extremely helpful to profit from studying online.
In short, this means:
An online degree program
- presupposes self-discipline (Selbstdisziplin): Work on yourself and your habits!
- works easier with optimism (Optimismus): Believe in yourself and your possibilities!
- benefits from serenety (Gelassenheit): Take things only as seriously as they are!
- functions better with honesty (Aufrichtigkeit): Do not fool yourself or others!
- needs mutual respect (Respekt): Look out for yourself and others!
Simply remember the acronym SOGAR (from the German terms which means "even") – for example with the following sentence:
Approached well, an online degree program EVEN (SOGAR) offers special educational opportunities!