BWLO Insights: New Assistants at the Department (2/2)

Part 2: Interview with Martin Dinter

In May, two new staff members began working at assistant level in the BWLO department: Sandra Grässle as an assistant & project management and Martin Dinter as a teaching and research assistant. We would like to introduce them to you in more detail. Therefore, we have asked both of them for an interview.

This week you will get to know Martin Dinter.

What did you do before you started to work at MCI?

I did my Bachelor’s degree in pedagogy at the University of Regensburg and my Master’s degree in educational science and adult education at the University of Bamberg. After that and for the past 3.5 years, I worked at the distance-learning unit of IUBH – University of Applied Sciences and created an individual coaching & counseling program for new students. I was then appointed deputy head of the department. Within that program, I coached, counseled, and accompanied numerous students.

What tasks in your new job at MCI are you particularly looking to?

Although I will probably miss talking to students I am excited about changing fronts and be in contact with teaching staff more often. I hope it will provide a new perspective for me within the university cosmos.

You have coached online students before - which advice would you like to give our students?

Studying (online) requires an enormous amount of self-organization and learning skills. That can be even more demanding if you are studying while working. In order to face this task, there are at least four hints I would like to share:

• Make up your mind about what you want to achieve: Try to put it into words, as specific as possible, long term as well as short term. Create a realistic and reachable goal you can work towards. If you have a “why” you can bear the “how”.
• Prepare for what is coming: Break down your big goals into little steps and create your own schedule and structure, so you can achieve your goals realistically and steadily. How would you want your next semester to look like outside of when you have to attend? How and when do you want to work on your courses? Get specific, don’t underestimate your workload, take it one step at a time. Most importantly: Act on it. The best plan is void if you don’t put it into practice.
• React to what has been: No plan survives first contact with the enemy. What you have planned before will not necessarily work out. That’s ok. Look at what has happened, figure out what went wrong and why (if any), rebuild your plan accordingly, and act on it again.
• Forgive yourself: Nothing will be perfect from start, especially something as big and complex as a study program, but practice makes perfect. Your first exam will probably not turn out to be your best work yet, but do not lose hope; perseverance is key. There will always be another shot. Everybody is struggling and nobody really knows how to do it. Reach out to everybody who will lend a hand: friends, family, teaching staff, administrative staff, and your fellow students; it will lighten your burden. You are not alone and you don’t have to be perfect.

What book are you reading at the moment?

I am currently reading “I am dynamite! – A Life of Nietzsche” by Sue Prideaux. I liked the insights into the educational system during his times, how much emphasis was put on education, how much effort was involved in general (studying from 6 am to 7 pm), and how unconventional it all could be (he became a professor at the University of Basel without even finishing his doctoral thesis). Quite in contrast to how he is usually perceived, his physical condition was rather fragile, as he sometimes couldn’t even endure direct sunlight. He, therefore, forced himself to be productive, whenever he was able to. It was a life of self-overcoming.

You just moved to Innsbruck a few weeks ago - would you like to share your highlight with us?

I find Innsbruck lovely and a bit exotic: I can’t believe there are places covered in snow – in mid-June! Furthermore, there is a house with a golden roof! Why would anyone ever build it that way? Looks amazing, though.

Thank you for the interview and all the best for your new job!