Guide to consultation meetings
Guide to consultation meetings
Why this guide?
There are many reasons that can lead you to a teacher's office hours. If you have a specific concern, such as preparing for an exam or final thesis, the reason for the consultation is relatively easy to formulate. However, your concern may also be complex and you may not be able to say straight away what it is actually about.
In addition, students often realise that although they have received a lot of information, crucial questions have not been asked, answered or retained.
Whatever may bring you to your teacher's office hours: office hours are there to support you in your studies. Please consider our guide as a recommendation for preparing for a purposeful discussion with a lasting effect.
Before the conversation
Possible occasions for dialogue
- You want to write a seminar paper or prepare a presentation.
- You want to prepare for the next written exam.
- You have questions about writing your Bachelor's or Master's thesis.
- You have read the examination regulations, but still have questions about the study modules or the course of study.
- You were ill or "somehow" missed the boat.
- You are very motivated in your studies and are hoping for additional suggestions for organising your studies.
- You are studying with a child and would like to know what agreements you can make with your teacher with regard to exam concessions (decisions are ultimately made by the examining board).
- You have questions about time management.
- You want to integrate a stay abroad or an internship into your degree programme.
- You need an expert opinion for a scholarship application.
- You are thinking about doing a doctorate after graduation and need further information.
The important thing is to let go of the idea that your request is unimportant. The fact is: you have given it some thought - so it is important to you!
Brainstorming
Make a spontaneous note of your thoughts on the topic. All thoughts are allowed and should be written down (the brainstorming session is only intended as a guide for you).
You will probably come up with many keywords. Now sort your keywords, or rather your topics, into key areas and formulate your questions. A mind map can be helpful here.
Formulating specific questions is a challenge, so you should let your questions "rest" for a day or two before you decide to use them in your office hours.
Narrowing down the topics
The following questions can help you get to the heart of your concern:
- What exactly is your concern?
- Which central questions / topics result from this?
- How do you want to start the conversation? (Think of a suitable introductory sentence)
- If you are talking about a specific project - have you thought about a realistic timetable for realising your project?
- What have you done so far to solve the problem you are concerned about independently (literature research, structuring the seminar paper/presentation, developing a research question, working out the state of research, etc.)?
- What documents would you take with you to the office hours?
- What can you do to ensure that the discussion goes to your satisfaction?
List of topics and catalogue of questions
- Write your list of topics or your catalogue of questions on the PC and not by hand. This way the teacher can easily read your notes.
- Organise your questions according to their importance (list of priorities).
- Condense the keywords into a few points.
- For example, if you have questions about a term paper or thesis and have already developed ideas for a rough outline and questions, it is best to write the title of your paper, the question and your outline on a sheet of paper so that it is clear at first glance what you have already worked out.
During the conversation
Objective
At the end of the discussion with your teacher, clarify the steps you should take next and arrange further discussions if necessary.
In any case, always have the courage to ask questions if you don't understand something straight away.
Consultations in the group
Clarify in advance with the team who will ask which questions and how you want to interact during the office hours. Make sure that not just one person from the team speaks. It should be clear that you are working together on a topic and have divided up your tasks or areas of work in a comprehensible way