A study group is a group of people, usually in the same class, who get together to study or work on class material. They might meet on a regular basis or just before exams. Study groups can be useful and enjoyable.
Why study in groups?
- They help you learn - talking about material from your classes and readings might help you better understand and remember the content
- They introduce you to new skills and ways of studying - other people in the study group might have different - and better - ways of doing things. Looking at what others do might lead you to change the way you work in a positive way.
- They force you to stay on top of things - since you are committing to studying with your group, you'll need need to catch up on readings or notes before you meet in order to contribute.
- They can introduce you to new ideas and perspectives - other people have their own way of looking at doing things.You can broaden or change your views on a topic or strengthen your beliefs by making you think about them more critically
- It can be easier to ask a question in a study group as opposed to in the class.
- They can help you complete your notes
- They prove a regular space and time for study
- They can provide support and motivation
- They can be fun - you can make new friends and improve your social skills
Setting up a study group
Starting off
First, set out your goals for the group - do you want to revise for an exam, better understand class material, get new tips for study? You need to define the objectives of the group before you can sell the group to other people. To find other people, talk to some of your classmates - they can spread the word. Perhaps stick a note up on the noticeboard or maybe ask your tutor send an email around. You shouldn't form a group with just your buddies - will you work or spend a lot of time messing around?
Logistics
You'll need to think about the practicalities of your study group
- how many members - you'll need a critical mass of people to keep it going, but you probably don't want too many, 4-6 is probably ideal
- how often to meet
- where to meet
- any equipment needed (e.g, computers, access to a whiteboard, marker pens)
Organisation
Study groups can be informal, where the group meets and discusses class notes, material or reviews questions. These don't require much organisation or even preparation, but you might feel that you're not getting the out of the group with this approach. Alternatively, you could decide beforehand on a topic that you'll go through at the meeting. This requires a bit more effort but could be more productive. Group members can suggest topics that they feel less confident about and for the group members who know the topic better, then explaining it will help cement understanding.
Make a commitment
If you start a study group, you'll need to work at it so that it develops its own momentum. Don;t start the group, turn up for the first meeting and then not bother going afterwards. Like other group work, you need to do the work, turn up and have a positive attitude.
Setting ground rules
As with group work for a class assignment, you should think about agreeing a set of rules for people to follow. It doesn't have to be as detailed as the assignment group's agreement, but you could think about including, for example:
- Completing any work required before a session
- Turning up on time for sessions
- Being positive, polite and respectful
- No interruptions - one person speaking at a time
- Everyone's contributions are valued
- Everybody works
- Only one person speaks at a time. Allow people to finish speaking before responding/offering comments.
- Any criticisms should be constructive. You criticise ideas , not people
The first meeting
As with assignment groups, the first meeting should be for introducing the group members, exchanging contact details and agreeing some rules about the group will operate. To break the ice it might be an idea to go for a coffee or a drink afterwards.
Getting the most out of a study group
- It's better to know what you want to achieve from each session before you for into it, so your group probably will work better if you do a bit of preparation beforehand as opposed to just turning up and discussing the last class
- Avoid distractions - you might plan breaks using for example the Pomodoro technique, schedule something social afterwards as a reward for meeting the goals, or have one group member in charge of keeping the group on task
- Decide how the group will be coordinated - will there be one member who looks after things, or will it be a group decision as to what you do?
- Like groups for assignments, it's important that no-one dominates - everyone should have the same opportunity to contribute to discussions and group work.
- Evaluate. Don't just set the group in motion; from time to time you'll need to assess it to see if it's still effective. Don;t be afrid to make changes if changes are necessary.
Study group activities
- Compare each others' notes. You might find something you've missed
- Identify key ideas and important vocabulary
- Go over class notes or content together
- Explain difficult concepts or ideas to each other, especially if there are group members who are unsure of them
- Present a section of each week’s reading to the group.
- Quiz each other
- Work on questions or or problems individually before meeting up and compare workings and answers at the meeting
Not joining a study group
Don't form or join a study group if:
- You work or study better by yourself
- You'd rather decide what you want to study and you don't want to lose control over you're doing with regard to revision
- You'd rather work at your own pace
- You have other commitments or have a limited amount of time
- You get distracted easily
Thing to watch
Study groups are great; they're helpful, useful and can be good fun, but they require some effort in order to work well. Make sure that you don't fall into the trap of having the same limited understanding of some topics - you all might have the same weaknesses .
Don't let study groups become social gatherings, full of distraction rather than study - the social aspect can be rewarding, but it can't come at the expense of actual study.
Everyone works at different speeds so make sure everyone in the group is on the same page. Having people at different stages or different levels of understanding might lead to conflict. If you're far behind, or far ahead of of the other groups members, maybe the group isn't for you.
A golden rule: don't use study groups to work on individual assignments or projects
