How to Form and Use a Study Group Effectively

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How to Form and Use a Study Group Effectively

• Presentation Prepared by
• Debbie Maskin
• SUNY-Oneonta

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What is a study group?

• A study group is a group of three to five
  students who work together to share information
  and help each other achieve greater academic
  success.
• It is an arena for learning where you can
• Ask questions you might not wish to ask in
  class.
  
• Gain understanding of material you find
  confusing.
  
• Master information you will need to know.

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Advantages of a study group

• A study group gives emotional as well as
  intellectual support.
  
• It helps each member to become more motivated and
  more organized.
  

• From each group member you may learn alternative
  study techniques or important tips on how to
  achieve success in college.

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How to form a study group

• Gather a small group of students who are serious
  about their classes and attend classes well
  prepared and choose a subject you are having
  difficulty with or a subject that has a great
  deal of information to learn.
• OR choose three or four people from your class
  who are serious about doing well in a particular
  course.

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How to form a study group, continued

• These people need not necessarily be your
  friends, but they should be people with whom you
  feel comfortable.
  
• A study group must meet on a regular basis to be
  effective. We suggest at least once a week.
  Sessions should last one to three hours. When
  preparing for exams you may wish to meet more
  frequently.

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How to arrange meetings

• Exchange information on each participant
• Name, phone, email
• Schedule of classes
• Preferences for meeting times
• Choose someone who will be responsible for
  finding a meeting place and contacting the others.

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How to arrange meetings, continued

• Consider contacting the Learning Support
  Services, in Alumni Hall (436-3010)
  
• One or two members of the group can meet with a
  learning tutor to get pointers and to see if the
  LSS has study materials on hand for your
  subject.
• The LSS may have space available for you to meet
  with your group.
  
• Inform your professor that youve put together a
  group and ask for supplemental study materials to
  help meet your groups learning goals.
  

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IMPORTANT POINTS

• Set up a convenient time and place to meet.
• Try to meet at the same time and place each
  week.
  
• Make as serious a commitment to the study group
  as to attending classes.

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At your first meeting

• Determine the rules you will follow so that each
  person will share in making the group strong.
  
• Include specifics such as coming to the meetings
  on time, being prepared, and socializing.
  
• Discuss the leadership of your group
• Will one person assume the leadership?
• Will your group alternate leaders?

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At your first meeting, continued

• Set appropriate goals for your group
• Will you meet mainly to study for tests?
• Will you do group projects together?
• Will you work on homework together?

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At your first meeting, continued

• Discuss rules concerning sharing
• What materials (like notes or homework) will you
  share with group members?
  
• Will you go over your graded tests and
  assignments with each other?

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Allotting time

• An important task of a study group is to help
  prepare for quizzes and major exams. Quizzes may
  require more frequent but shorter-term study,
  while a major exam requires two to four weeks of
  review. At midterm and finals time you should
  increase your meeting time about two hours per
  week. This additional time should be used solely
  to study for the exams.

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Allocating time, continued

• If the exam is in a problem-solving course such
  as chemistry or physics, this time should be
  allocated to problem solving. These can be
  problems from the text or from former exams, or
  members of the group can make up problems, and
  individual group members can solve them and
  explain them to the group.
• Review text, handouts, notes, vocabulary cards,
  maps, previous tests taken in class, and any
  teacher-prepared suggestions or questions for
  study.

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Allocating time, continued

• Practicing with old exams can be an excellent
  exercise for preparation for exams, but remember
  Exams change. Do not rely solely on exam review
  to prepare for our tests.
• Make up your own questions, answer them, and get
  psyched!

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Important points to remember

• The study group must find a common place to meet
  and meet on a regular basis.
  
• The group must work as a team, and all members of
  the team must participate equally.
  
• For a study group to be most effective it must
  work together. Each group member must do his or
  her share
  
• Students who habitually come to the group
  unprepared or under-prepared should be dropped
  from the group.

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Use a study group wisely and enjoy your success!