Is a College Study Group Right for You?

Studying as a group is far better than studying alone as long as you put your group together carefully. This isn’t a time to socialize or get together and procrastinate, it’s a time to divvy up the work load and fill in the blanks for one another when it comes to missed lectures, explained theories, or whatever it is that needs to be covered.

One of the most effective tools of getting together with others to study is paraphrasing. Think about it. The more you repeat an idea or concept, the more likely you are to commit it to memory. When you and others in your group continually start sentences with, “In other words…” you are breaking down a complicated idea into comprehendible material. Each member should read a page and break it down for the group in their own words. This type of group learning also helps give new perspective, develops work skills and goes a long way toward preparing for tests. Here are some things you need to know before you get started:

1. Your group’s success rate is only as strong as the people you include. Don’t have more than six people because productivity suffers with too many members. There should be one moderator to make sure that everything gets done in a timely manner. Make sure that everyone in the group has a strong desire to learn. An unengaged group member could bog the entire group down.

2. What next? Assign one chapter or topic to each member every week. Everyone should arrive at the meeting with a good understanding of their material to share with the others. Key points should be identified and explained to all. Members should also be responsible for preparing quizzes from their assignment material.

The study group is a tried and true method of learning. Not only does it help everyone involved to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, it increases everyone’s satisfaction with their overall learning environment.

Are you ready to give it a go? Look around the lecture hall next time you’re in class and try to identify a handful of students who look the most engaged with the professor. When class is over, ask them if they’d be interested in forming a study group. Your work load will lesson, but you’ll understand more. It’s a win-win for all.

The author, Marshall Schumacher, has written nearly two hundred articles on online degree programs, the importance of college accreditation, online colleges and career preparation.

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