LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing the course, you can
- recognize factors affecting your study ability and study wellbeing, as well as understand their influence on meaningfully progressing studies
- maintain your study ability and study wellbeing in university studies
Credits: 3
Schedule: 07.01.2025 - 21.02.2025
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Anni Rytkönen
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
anni.rytkonen@aalto.fi
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English, Finnish, Swedish
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
The cross-cutting theme of the course is to give you methods for recognizing factors and developing skills affecting study wellbeing. These are focused on through weekly topics: foundations of study motivation; studies as part of life and recognizing meaningful values to oneself; time management skills and getting things done; emotions promoting and hindering study progress; strengths and stress management skills.
applies in this implementation
Great that you want to improve your study wellbeing and skills using peer support and researched information! After taking this course, you will recognize the factors that affect your own ability to study and your wellbeing, and you will understand the importance of those in terms of meaningfully smooth studying. In addition, you will learn skills with which you can achieve study goals, which are meaningful to you, without sacrificing your own wellbeing.
Course structure and content
The overarching purpose of the course is to give you tools for healthy studying. The structure uses the FSHS’s (YTHS) study ability model and the online materials of Aalto's study and career counselling psychologists. There are also methods of acceptance and commitment therapy in the background.
The course introduces weekly study skills and well-being themes; one for each course week. Each course week includes both individual and peer group work. The peer groups are an essential part of the course, and you cannot pass the course alone. The groups meet each week for reflective discussion and submit joint notes until the end of each week.
The course themes are
- Week 0: Pre-assignment, the return of which on time (latest on 12.1.25 at 20.00) is also a prerequisite for continuing the course and being allocated in a peer group!
- Week 1: Towards being well in studying. The week includes a meeting to start the course on Zoom on Monday 13.1.25 at 14-15.
- Week 2: Meaningful use of time
- Week 3: Space for recovery and focus on studying
- Week 4: Study techniques: How do I study?
- Week 5: A place to pause - time for thoughts and feelings
- Week 6: In search of a compassionate-self
Please note that participation requires returning the preliminary assignment in the given schedule. After that, each week includes self-studies, independent exercises and a group meeting. It is possible to do the course fully online, as guided online work. The group meetings can take place live or online - agree on this with your peer group. According to course feedback, many past course peer groups have preferred and recommend live meetings!
Individual assignment for each course week are returned by each Thursday and and group assignments each Sunday of the course week. Group work is a central part of the course. In the course, you practice giving and receiving encouraging feedback, as well as drawing up joint schedules and committing to them.
The course is evaluated on a pass/fail scale. Completing the course successfully requires doing weekly assignments, participating in small group work, and returning assigned assignments in the given schedule.
Not registered yet?
This course will run in Finnish and English in period 3. You can find the course on Sisu by searching for it under the name "Mind & Study - toolbox for being well in studies (3 CR)" or with the course code CS-C0005. Read the course schedule and other instructions carefully! Add the course to your personal study plan in Sisu and register until Tuesday 7th January, 2025 at 10 a.m. When registering, choose one of the available groups according to the level of your studies and the language of implementation (Finnish or English). Peer group allocation is done by course teachers according to your preferences.
The goal of the course is to support coping, wellbeing and success in studies, but it is not a therapeutic group and is therefore not necessarily suitable for students currently in very challenging life situations.
Contact information of the course teachers:
The teacher responsible for the course is Anni Rytkönen (anni.rytkonen(a)aalto.fi) from the Department of Computer Science, teamed up with Aalto's study psychologists who participate in the implementation.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Active participation in teaching, doing and submitting assignments in given schedule
applies in this implementation
The course is evaluated on a pass/fail scale. Completing the course successfully requires doing weekly assignments, participating in small group work, and returning assigned assignments in the given schedule.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Individual studies and group discussions on weekly basis
applies in this implementation
The course workload is 80h which gives you 3cr. According to course feedback, the workload is well in line with the estimation. The workload should be divided evenly between all course weeks. The individual assignment submission deadline is on Thursday 8pm and the peer group report submission deadline is on Sunday 8pm. Aim at using a regular weekly workload and doing the assignments in given schedule, especially doing the individual assignments before you meet your peer group.
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course material in MyCourses
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
3 Good Health and Well-being
16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn II
2024-2025 Spring III
2024-2025 Spring IV
2025-2026 Autumn II
2025-2026 Spring III
2025-2026 Spring IVRegistration:
For the first-year Bachelor's students, the course is recommended for the spring term
Details on the schedule
applies in this implementation
Submitting the pre-assignment in given schedule is a compulsory requisite for continuing in the course and getting a peer group. The peer groups are allocated on Monday 13.1. morning.