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Face-to-face teaching is back - a bit: Most universities have events both online and on-site (symbol image)
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At the latest when 13,000 students were welcomed to the Cologne football stadium for the new semester last week, it was possible to imagine how much everyone would like to return to the lecture halls.
Professors, lecturers and students - after three Corona semesters, those involved in university operations long for the good, old classroom teaching.
But it doesn't go that fast.
The winter semester is a transition period in which digital and traditional teaching concepts are combined in many places.
“Hybrid teaching” is the magic word - and so that it doesn't become a bad word, I have a few recommendations ready.
Digital vs. presence
As befits the federal educational location Germany, the structure of the hybrid university teaching is very different: Some universities still rely almost exclusively on video lectures, while others organize a live event for each course - regardless of whether there are five or 1,500 Students.
However, according to my research, mixed forms appear most frequently.
And it is precisely this hybrid teaching that must be understood and optimally used so that your semester is successful.
Here's how you can do it:
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As I said: depending on the federal state, university or course of study, different teaching formats are waiting for you this semester.
Occasionally, combinations of digital and face-to-face teaching are even offered within the same course.
Because of this diversity, you should first check what your university has in store for you.
Which of your lectures, exercises and seminars are offered digitally, classically or in a mixed form?
What applies to every semester is particularly important in autumn 2021: Familiarize yourself with your courses - if you have not already done so.
Observe the new rules of the game
Most students are now familiar with the processes involved in digital lectures.
The return of face-to-face teaching under Corona conditions, however, brings with it new framework conditions: How does your university organize events in the lecture hall?
Do you need a vaccination certificate or a recent test to enter the room?
Does a 2 or 3 G rule apply?
Should you allow additional time for entry controls?
And how long does it take to change lecture rooms?
Is the cafeteria open?
What about the library and public study rooms?
Question after question - which you should clarify quickly so that your daily planning does not suffer.
Speaking of planning ...
Plan the semester
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Even if you can't answer all of the organizational questions, you should try to plan your studies.
I recommend working out an individual timetable for this.
Which events would you like to attend live in the lecture hall?
Which courses are exclusively digital anyway?
And do you have to follow the streams live or will the recordings be later?
Create an overview from this.
You should also allow for sufficient buffer time for face-to-face events so that time-consuming entry checks, for example, throw you off the schedule.
Find the optimal mix
If you have the choice between different teaching formats, it is important to make a decision with which you can study optimally. Do not act according to your environment, but pay attention to your personal interests and strengths - maybe you already have experience from the past Corona semesters that you can include here.
Just because all your fellow students make a pilgrimage back to the lecture hall doesn't mean that you have to do without your beloved online lecture.
On the other hand, a visit to the campus could be good for you - even if your fellow students prefer to stay at home and you are (almost) alone in the seminar room.
A mixture may also be right for you, for example by attending the lecture on-site but doing the exercise online.
If you do not have to make a binding decision on a teaching format, you can adjust your schedule over the course of the semester: If the videos are too passive, you go back to the lecture hall;
if the live lecture is too boring, you can continue studying from home.
Use teaching formats efficiently
I know, I know: There has been no personal contact in the lecture hall in the last few semesters and, above all, the social relationships on campus make student life really lively.
Nevertheless, as a study advisor, I would like to carefully but firmly raise my index finger: studying is still about training - and it should be efficient.
Do not use your face-to-face event to chat with the person sitting next to you, but take it seriously.
Prepare your lecture, listen with concentration, take notes and think along.
Before and after that, you can still "network" enough with your fellow students and make new friends.
The same applies to digital events: Participate with full focus.
Otherwise it's a waste of time - and you shouldn't afford it, regardless of the format.
Conclusion
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Reichel, Tim
Finally productive in the home office: Working efficiently and concentrated at home - the best home office hacks for more focus, higher productivity and better time management
Publisher: FinanzBuch Verlag
Number of pages: 176
Publisher: FinanzBuch Verlag
Number of pages: 176
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Due to the corona pandemic, many universities had to reposition themselves.
That was good in terms of innovation, but even the best webcam cannot compensate for human isolation.
The hybrid teaching in the winter semester offers a great opportunity to combine classic and modern learning.
I suspect that in the end it will be the students who decide which form will prevail.
And then we need bigger football stadiums.