Studying successfully with learning workshops

This online course allows you to reflect on and optimise your self-management throughout the semester. Based on eight expert lectures (video inputs of approximately 30-40 minutes), you will deal compactly with topics that are particularly important for the beneficial organisation of your everyday learning and successful exam preparation, such as planning, learning, motivation, and stress management.

Self-learning materials support you in applying the knowledge gained from the videos to your learning and working behaviour.

Once a week, you will meet face-to-face with a learning and exam coach and other students in an online meeting (1.5 hours) to share your experiences, find solutions to any obstacles, and reflect on your progress.

Please note that this requires active participation with the camera turned on and your spoken contributions. Therefore, a distraction-free environment is necessary for course participation.

The online course covers the following topics:

• How do I learn correctly? Essential facts from learning theory (Bettina Hafner)
• Planning learning - My ideal weekly plan (Bettina Hafner)
• Achieving motivation and goals (Raphael Müller-Hotop)
• Training willpower strategies (Raphael Müller-Hotop)
• Dealing with stress (Dr. Tatjana Reichhart)
• Self-care during studies (Dr. Tatjana Reichhart)
• Dealing with nervousness and exam anxiety (Ursula Kronenberger)
• The last weeks and days before exams (Bettina Hafner)

Trainer: Miriam Roßmanith (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 16.10.2024, 10:00 – 11:30 
Format: Multi-part online seminar with weekly one-and-a-half-hour webinars
Registration: TUMonline

Perfectionism can become a burden during studies if it stands in the way of satisfaction, personal well-being and success. Extremely high demands on our own actions and the fear of making mistakes can block our motivation and creativity. Excessive perfectionism can even lead to severe self-doubt - whenever we fail to achieve our own expectations and goals.
In order to meet the many demands of studying, it is worth consciously examining your personal inner attitudes and beliefs:

• What are the causes and consequences of my perfectionist attitude?
• What do I think about myself and life?
• How do I define success?
• How do I achieve my goals?
• What thoughts and experiences influence my mindset and actions?

Getting to the bottom of individual thought and behavior patterns is a first step towards being able to meet individual needs and resources. This leads to a healthy approach to your own perfectionism and, in the long term, to greater success and satisfaction in your studies and career.

Trainer: Stephanie Mader (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 16.10.2024, 09:00 – 13:00 
Format: Multi-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

We are exposed to high performance and time pressure even during our studies. For this reason, it is essential to learn effective strategies to

• reduce nervousness and tension,

• to apply good time management skills,

• to know one's stress traps and

• to keep to the relaxation phases.

All this will strengthen us for professional life and make it easier to start.

Within each module, there is the possibility to address the group's needs and answer questions.

Trainer: Adele Brucks (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 16.10.2024, 09:00 – 12:00 
Format: Multi-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

In principle, there's nothing wrong with exciting challenges and variety. But sometimes you reach the point where you fear you won't be able to meet the requirements or fulfil the expectations. And even otherwise, it would be nice if things were easier to do. Fortunately, we always have the opportunity to draw on our talents, strengths and resources – if we manage to consciously perceive and activate them.

Main topics:

• Knowing your strengths - strengthening your self-worth
• Defining and discovering essential resources for success in studying and in professional life
• Accepting one's own "weaknesses" or using them constructively
• Reflecting on one's values, imprints and inner motivators
• Getting to know and expanding the seven pillars and seven keys of resilience (resistance)
• Focus on the essential - What is important, urgent and helpful for me, my task, and my goals?
• Networking

Trainer: Evelyne Mühlich (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 18.10.2024, 09:00 – 17:30
Format: Two-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

“Just the mere thought of an audience, regardless of size, can cause anxiety and panic.” Many students say this when they have to give a presentation, ask a question in class, or introduce themselves during a job interview. Speaking successfully in front of others is a challenge that can be mastered, when addressed head-on. It’s not just about overcoming fear; it’s about gaining a powerful tool that can make a difference in your personal and professional life.

In this workshop, you will learn how to transform fear into positive energy. We will dive into the psychology of fear and performance, and you will learn how to manage your body, thoughts, behaviour, and emotions whenever you are under pressure. Practical exercises and scientifically based methods help you to control stage fright and presentation anxiety. With adequate preparation, you can act, speak and present confidently, even if all eyes are on you. Convince yourself and others of your knowledge and skills – imagine how satisfying that would be.

Trainer: Prof. Dr. Adina Mornell (Course language: English)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 21.10.2024, 14:00 – 20:00 
Format: Multi-part seminar
Registration: TUMonline

Mindfulness is a well-researched approach that can help students to better cope with stress and strain and to master their studies with more serenity. At the heart of the non-religious practice is the ability to turn to the present moment and cultivate an attitude of curiosity, openness and acceptance of one's own experience.

This training introduces the conceptual foundations of the method. It offers space to learn different forms of practice (e.g. meditation, breath observation, body scans, mindful movement, exercises for self-reflection, and journaling). In addition, in the group, we will also work out ways of implementing mindfulness-based strategies for everyday study life. In this way, mindfulness can become an essential skill for the participants' resilience, their personal development and for successfully coping with their studies.

Trainer: Sabine Burkhardt (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 21.10.2024, 17:30 – 19:30
Format: Multi-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

Studying is full of challenges: exam stress, complex tasks, self-organised learning, etc. Those who want to achieve goals in their studies and master challenges in their way need the ability to think, decide and act independently. In this seminar, which consists of 6 half-days, the participants deal with their goals, spontaneous reaction patterns and fundamental convictions (= mindset), and how they deal with motivational and emotional challenges. Based on empirical findings from psychology and scientifically founded strategies, you will train the skills to recognise connections and shape your study life goal-oriented.

Trainer: Raphael Müller-Hotop (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 25.10.2024, 09:00 – 17:30
Format: Multi-part seminar
Registration: TUMonline

In addition to organisational skills, self-management skills are also required to manage everyday study life: How can I motivate myself, set goals to achieve them, and deal with stress? In a nutshell, How do I organise my studies in a way that I will remain motivated, efficient and healthy?

Explore what promotes or inhibits your learning. Identifying and developing a customised learning culture is critical to studying successfully. Learning hacks - smart strategies - help you manage and persevere through the challenging learning demands.

Good communication skills are the foundation of success in your study because "only those who communicate can receive support." Guidance and exercises in interpersonal interactions (appreciation, genuineness, and empathy) reduce insecurities, promote self-initiative, and increase self-confidence.

The focus of the course includes:

• Design a personal vision for a study that charts the path for future development.
• Building confidence in one's ability to learn (growth mindset)
• Developing individual learning strategies and routines
• Application of learning hacks for effective learning and time management
• Creation of a customised learning plan
• Use of sketch notes as a pictorial protocol technique
• Development of communication skills

Trainer: Rike Zeus (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 29.10.2024, 10:00 – 15:30 
Format: Multi-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

Today, I start. For sure. Or will it be tomorrow? Do you also always make good resolutions about studying or doing homework – and then fail to keep them? Welcome to the workshop. Starting today, no more procrastination. In this workshop, you will discover why you are always late or don't get started. You will test yourself, develop your individual, successful work strategy with modern coaching tools and thus finally achieve your goals.

Trainer: Ursula Kronenberger (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 06.11.2024, 10:00 – 16:30 
Format: Online
Registration: TUMonline

This course is aimed at all students who have yet to be used to presenting themselves and their content freely and unbiasedly in front of others. The participants should be aware of their appearance's impact and learn action strategies to congruently adjust their inner and outer attitudes. The course is meant to be an offer to try out oneself in an uncensored and accessible way with the help of exercises and elements from improvisational theatre and bodywork.

Improvisational theatre means getting in motion, being quick-witted, and surprising yourself. For this, roles are created, characters are slipped into, stories are invented, absurd things are claimed - all methods to get in touch with oneself, one's body and the person opposite. Bodywork helps to sharpen and change one's awareness of the effect.

Trainer: Veronika Molin (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 20.11.2024, 09:00 – 17:30 
Format: Two-part classroom seminar 
Registration: TUMonline

The workload at university is heavy. Everyone knows the stress associated with it, and many students have experience with "procrastination". Do you have enough of feeling permanently exhausted, of barely being able to finish work, or only being able to do so with night shifts? Not having any free time before exams and examinations and feeling exam anxiety? Do you want to change something? Consciously dealing with time and using methods and techniques for effective time management help to cope with the workload.

This seminar focuses on reflecting on your working and learning methods, tools and techniques for time and self-management and their application.

Trainer: Dr. Angela Firmhofer (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 21.11.2024, 09:00 – 17:30 
Format: Multi-part seminar
Registration: TUMonline

It is said that our own values constantly guide us in everyday life. Sometimes they are referred to as the invisible engine, because it usually happens unconsciously and invisibly. But what exactly are values? How can I discover my own values? And how do they manifest themselves in concrete terms?

This seminar invites you to take a critical and appreciative look at your own value system.

• What is valuable to me and my life?
• What values and visions guide me?
• How are my values expressed in the various roles I take on?
• In which situations do I find them particularly supportive?
• And when do they tend to inhibit my development aspirations?

We approach this often abstract world with theoretical input and various methods in order to make the large construct of values tangible. After analyzing and reflecting on our own values, we also explore and try out the possibilities for shaping them. The weekly rhythm allows the experiences gained to be deepened, stabilized and adapted as required.

Trainer: Quirin Schnack (Course language: German)
Provider: Academic Coaching CST & Kontextlehre WTG
Date: Start: 22.11.2024, 09:30 – 18:00
Format: Two-part classroom seminar
Registration: TUMonline

Please note: This course is best suited for students who are about to write their final thesis or have already started it.

Writing your final thesis successfully is an important step to acquire your academic degree. For some students, it is the best chance during their studies to pursue personal ideas and interests autonomously. Nevertheless, there are some essential barriers you should consider: limited time resources, plenty of research literature and the need to communicate effectively with your supervisor are some examples for challenging demands.

The workshop “Strike! - Principles and tools to succeed in your final thesis" takes up these challenges and makes you familiar with potential steps and principles that can be helpful during this final phase. For that, we take a project management view and have a closer look at how to manage your time with a schedule, work effectively with an outcome perspective and how to deal with organizing and structuring information. International students get in touch with a German point of view to become more self-confident in the interaction with their supervisors. 

Trainer: Dr. Michael Hellwig (Course language: German)
Provider: ProLehre Lernkompetenz
Date: 14.03.2024, 13:30 – 17:30 & 15.03.2025, 09:30 – 13:30
Format: Online seminar
Registration: TUMonline

Please note: This course is best suited for students who are about to write their final thesis or have already started it.

Writing your final thesis successfully is an important step to acquire your academic degree. For some students, it is the best chance during their studies to pursue personal ideas and interests autonomously. Nevertheless, there are some essential barriers you should consider: limited time resources, plenty of research literature and the need to communicate effectively with your supervisor are some examples for challenging demands.

The workshop “Strike! - Principles and tools to succeed in your final thesis" takes up these challenges and makes you familiar with potential steps and principles that can be helpful during this final phase. For that, we take a project management view and have a closer look at how to manage your time with a schedule, work effectively with an outcome perspective and how to deal with organizing and structuring information. International students get in touch with a German point of view to become more self-confident in the interaction with their supervisors. 

Trainer: Dr. Michael Hellwig (Course language: English)
Provider: ProLehre Lernkompetenz
Date: 21.03.2024, 13:30 – 17:30 & 22.03.2025, 09:30 – 13:30   
Format: Online seminar
Registration: TUMonline

The transition from school to university can be challenging. That's why ProLehre has developed a support programme especially for first-semester students to help you get through your first semester at university.  In this Moodle self-study course, you will find helpful materials about learning in the first semester. You can enrol yourself in the course and learn at your own pace with the materials. Click here to go to the Electronic Learning Coach.

OPEN vhb courses are open online courses offered by the Bavarian universities that can be used free of charge by anyone interested. These offers also provide you with helpful information on topics such as self-regulated learning, motivation, emotional competence, resilience or stress management, among others.

These are non-curricular courses, i.e. ECTS credits cannot be earned here. It is not necessary to be enrolled at a university to register. All you need is a stable internet connection and registration at open.vhb.org/login. Once you have registered, you can start learning: All current courses remain available for at least five years and do not have to be completed in a set time. You can join a course at any time, you also determine your own learning pace. More information at https://open.vhb.org/