Introduction

The Digital Companion is a format I created to make learning accessible and organized for both students and teachers. Originally developed as an emergency response to the sudden transition from on-site to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has since been adapted for broader use. This format provides a seamless way to share curricula and learning materials through direct links, while enabling efficient organization of knowledge to meet learner needs and support quick teacher navigation. 

Background: Adapting to the COVID-19 Transition  

The concept of the Digital Companion first emerged in the context of a classical undergraduate course on Medieval and Renaissance Philosophz. As universities shifted to distance learning mid-semester, the traditional format of 15 lectures and 15 seminars required significant rethinking. This course relied heavily on reading and interpreting classical philosophical texts, many of which were only available as printed copies in the now-inaccessible faculty library.

The transition presented three primary challenges:

1. Accessibility: Providing alternative resources for printed materials.

2. Ease of Use: Creating an intuitive system that minimized technical barriers for students.

3. Adaptability: Designing a format that could evolve with the course needs and support online lectures and seminars.