The impact of studying at home on study success
It started with the cancellation of events of more than 100 people, but now everyone is advised to stay indoors. Living rooms changed into offices and student rooms into study spaces. The movement to study at home makes it more difficult for educational institutions to stay in control of students progress in their studies. What does this study at home look like and how do you ensure that your students can continue to study successfully?
Take a look behind the scenes of studying at home
Gradually, nice study places are emerging in student rooms where students settle down without having to travel to university. Organising their own study environment is well received. Feedback from students suggests that being able to organise your time yourself and being able to study with a self-chosen view works well. The video lectures are also well received. Where possible, lectures take place online, so that students keep up with the material. “Teachers are good at online teaching. “It does have something, this new way of teaching,” said Puck (third-year Commercial Economics student).
The problems of studying at home
Where on one hand, home study means sleeping longer, working in pyjamas and organising your own day, it also has its downside. Students face two major problems: communication and their challenging home situation.
First of all, there is concern about the course of studies. “How are the exams now administered? Does home study means study delay? And who pays for the costs of study delays?” These are frequently asked questions among students. Communication around this appears to be very difficult. It often takes place in a decentralised way,while students prefer central communication about the problem.
In addition, there are problems that home study itself entails. Many students live in a student house. Small rooms and many roommates can cause unrest, quickly distracting students. “It is also difficult to get back into the study flow from your own motivation,” said Paul (third-year Commercial Economics student). After all, there is no one in the immediate surrounding of students who is able to get them to work.
The role of the educational institution
Make sure that the basics are in order and that students know what to expect. Don’t let them flutter around aimlessly, but keep triggering them with a bit of perspective. What does the coronavirus mean for their study progress? Try to communicate regularly about measures and updates from a central point. It is also a good thing to offer students a listening ear. Make sure you remain easily accessible and show that you are there to support them where necessary. Also, collect feedback to get a good view of the impact of your adaptations in studying at home and whether they match student’s needs. You can read more about direct student feedback via this blog. In this way you ensure that the transition from studying at school to the home situation is as small as possible. This keeps the impact of the change on study success as small as possible.
