As you can tell infer from the title--I have found study groups to be a colossal waste of time. Everything you need to know is in the book and anything confusing can be googled much quicker than any alternative.
Now that I've started nursing school everyone and their dog has heavily emphasized the importance of forming study groups to survive. Can someone explain to me how utilizing a study group can be beneficial to me?
How do you prepare for a study group?
How does it provide any greater understanding of the material?
I've always been a loner when it comes to studying. Its worked up until this point. First Nursing Fundamentals Exam down and I did well studying on my own. But I'm feeling the pull of wanting to join a study group. I don't think it would replace the need for me to study on my own though. But it might just shore up some of the stuff I may be shaky on in the future. Like 1 question I missed today, a bunch of folks got it right. So even though I had a higher score than they did, obviously I could have still learned from the people that got a lower score than I did.
They can be effective if they are part of your learning style. Some students need to verbalize what they are reading and discuss it, not just read it in a textbook. I know they are helpful for me if I get the right students in a group.. but if you get one person who just sits there and gossips or runs the conversation into the ground or towards a different subject, YOURE SCREWED!
I've never liked studying in a group, until now. I'm lucky to have found several other students in my class that have the same mentality towards school that I do. We all read and prepare on our own ahead of time, then get together and answer/discuss practice questions. The advantage is that we all bring different perspectives to the table, and at least one of us usually gets the correct answer and can explain our own rationale behind it, in addition to the book's rationale. Also, we've all gotten different supplementary books, so that we have that many more questions to run through without breaking the bank too much.
Today was our first group study for med-surg, and we decided to try out some case studies as well. I sometimes find case studies tedious to do on my own with so many other items on the to do list, so it was very helpful in getting the ideas and thought processes flowing.
I think the key is to find other like-minded people with similar goals for the group. If you're looking to review and discuss but those you're meeting with are still working on getting through it the first time, you'll probably feel as though you drew the short straw. I've been there and ended up "teaching" the whole time, and while there are benefits to that, it wasn't what I wanted to get from the group, so I ended up feeling like it was a waste of my precious study time.
I also recommend keeping it small. One of our first meetings last semester, we had 8 or 10 people show up and got almost nothing done. It was too many people with different priorities and agendas, and personality issues came about. The upside to that first meeting though was that the group we have now came from that night.
As others have said, the key is to find people who show up to study group PREPARED. When all involved have studied the material, it goes much smoother. I was in one a few times last semester where one woman only wanted to talk about how badly she needed to get laid, and everyone else gave her advice on toys to buy. The second group everyone sat around and read, no discussion. I finally found a group this semester where we TALK about the material. (Admittedly, we do chit chat a LITTLE, but maybe minutes out of an hour...) It has been a HUGE help for the four of us. (That's the other key...keep it small!)
I love studying with other people, not necessarily as a study group, but just having them with me! It's much harder for me to study at home alone, but it's nice to be in a study room or coffee shop with other people also studying. I like being able to take breaks to crack jokes and keep each other motivated. And if the people I am studying with are in my nursing classes, that's even more beneficial!
I have one friend who is great at explaining stuff to me. I would never have understood the heart if it wasn't for him. He explained it to me and it became my easiest topic in med-surg!
I have another friend who I always study with before exams and we ask each other questions, which I love, because it really shows if I know my stuff or not, which can be hard to tell when I'm just reading silently! I was disappointed when I started nursing school because it seemed like most of my classmates preferred to study alone, which I just find too lonely. But I'm grateful that there are at least a couple people I can study with from time to to time. They do wonders for my pursuit of knowledge and for my happiness. :)
It always grates on my nerves when I have instructors say, "The people that use study groups are the ones that get A's."
Well so far I have yet to join a group in all my academic years and have gotten A's all by my onesie, and I see many in those study groups wasting time going off-topic and getting C's.
Personally.....I think study groups are the devil. People have gotten used to me plugging into my iPod while they start talking and tossing around ideas. It's too distracting and just ends up aggravating me. I do much better with some good music and my own notes.
It always grates on my nerves when I have instructors say, "The people that use study groups are the ones that get A's."
Well so far I have yet to join a group in all my academic years and have gotten A's all by my onesie, and I see many in those study groups wasting time going off-topic and getting C's.
eh.
It seems to me that the instructors aren't stating this as Gospel, but more letting everyone know the trend they've seen over the years. There will always be exceptions on both sides.
If you're doing well, why on earth would instructors explaining how they've noticed others doing well "grate on your nerves?" No one is judging you, they're just explaining what they've seen in the past.
It seems to me that the instructors aren't stating this as Gospel, but more letting everyone know the trend they've seen over the years. There will always be exceptions on both sides.
If you're doing well, why on earth would instructors explaining how they've noticed others doing well "grate on your nerves?" No one is judging you, they're just explaining what they've seen in the past.
Because I've one too many declare it's the *only* way. Therefore - grates.
Read the material. Go to class. Read the material again and focus on the objectives.
"How does it provide any greater understanding of the material?"
You hear different perspectives. You teach others yours. You discuss concepts and different ways to approach concepts.
"How is it superior to independent study?"
It depends. Human beings are basically social creatures and have the ability to work very well together in small groups. Study groups also can provide motivation to keep up, stay ahead, and just do the work. If you have a study group on Friday morning, you cannot put off your reading until Saturday or Sunday. People who come to my study groups who have not read do not have a good time.
Nursing school can be a hellish grind. My study groups have helped keep me going.
I have also developed some very good friendships because of study groups. Sometimes this is not so conducive to studying, but it sure helps when you need a break.
Most of the time, I ended up investing a lot of time explaining things to my classmates, but getting very little benefit in return.
Explaining things to classmates has probably been the single most beneficial aspect of my study groups. By the time I've figured out how to explain something from a couple different perspectives, I've got it locked down pretty solid.
Explaining things to classmates has probably been the single most beneficial aspect of my study groups. By the time I've figured out how to explain something from a couple different perspectives, I've got it locked down pretty solid.
I really wanted to find a good study group, because I also learn by explaining and teaching things, it helps me to process the information...I just didn't find the right group, found great friends, just not great study partners. I think the people you are studying with is what makes it or breaks it. You all have to be just as prepared and motivated otherwise it just doesn't work.
mangopeach
916 Posts
I've always been a loner when it comes to studying. Its worked up until this point. First Nursing Fundamentals Exam down and I did well studying on my own. But I'm feeling the pull of wanting to join a study group. I don't think it would replace the need for me to study on my own though. But it might just shore up some of the stuff I may be shaky on in the future. Like 1 question I missed today, a bunch of folks got it right. So even though I had a higher score than they did, obviously I could have still learned from the people that got a lower score than I did.