The Covid-19 shutdown: when studying turns digital, students want more structure

Abstract In March 2020, universities in Norway and many other countries shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The students lost access classrooms, libraries, study halls, laboratories. Studying turned digital. Because it is unclear when this pandemic will cease affect because we cannot know whether or a new occurs, need find ways improve digital study-life for students. An important step direction understand students’ experiences perspectives regarding how digitalization affected their both structured learning arenas self-study. Therefore, interviewed 12 an introductory mechanics course at Norwegian university June of 2020. Through thematic analysis, identified four broad categories different reflections, namely that digitalization: (a) provides benefits, e.g. flexibility inherent online video lectures; (b) incurs costs, reducing effort; (c) social missing being around students; (d) increases structure, wanting be arranged groups solve mandatory tasks. We also found 2019 on average scored significantly better final exam than 2020 students, d = 0.31, but discuss why result should interpreted with caution. provide suggestions adapt courses make studying more socially stimulating effective. Furthermore, contribution historical documentation