Learning from others’ experiences: Preparing students for specialist counselling assignments using an online self-study platform

Abstract

This study examines an online platform for independent self-studying created for the preparation of students for specialist counselling assignments. The platform uses learning from others’ experiences as a main learning method. Users also encounter virtual counselling situations where the recently conveyed experiences are used to solve the situation.

The platform was created to order for the German Academic Exchange Service to expand the training of their student ambassadors on the studieren weltweit campaign, which aims to improve the international mobility of students in Germany. This paper examines the question whether the platform is successful in preparing the campaign Ambassadors for their counselling assignments.

The study was executed using a qualitative research design. A sample of the future users of the platform was asked to complete it and then interviewed in semi-structured qualitative interviews on their experiences. A thematic analysis of the data was used to understand the success of the platform among the interviewees.

The main finding of the study is that the platform was successful in preparing the Ambassadors for their tasks. The interviewees reported to feel better prepared and more confident toward Ambassador assignments than before using the platform. They approved of the teaching and learning method, learning from others’ experiences.