How do you do a study group?

[KLBatchelor]

Hello there! So my first day of my first semester is on Wednesday! OMG 3 days away!! My question is, what do you do to make a study group most efficent? The 3rd semester students put together a video to help out 1st semester students and what they all said is study in a good study group. One girl even said she didn't think she would study well in a group, and figured she would study better on her own and barely made it by her 1st semester and then her 2nd semester she joined a group and her grades improved drastically. So for y'all that study well in groups, please send me your techniques or any hints on how you do well with this method! Thanks!!

[willowita, ADN, RN]

Wow, lots of people against study groups here. I've found them to be valuable.

I try to find people with a similar disposition and who are close to my age. I'm all business when I study so I make sure to seek out similar minded people. And like others have stated, keep it to a small group. 5 tops. 3 is better.

Someone needs to take the leadership role. Not to boss people around but to set the agenda and keep the group focused. It usually happens organically since group dynamics forces someone to be a leader. But you can also ask someone to be a leader if you think they posses those strengths or ask if the group is okay with you leading the discussion. In my last study group, I fell into that role and we had a solid group for a year and a half. It just worked out for the particular group I was in.

You can then organize the study session systematically, depending on what the priorities are. You can review the material for that week and go chapter by chapter, trying to go over the course objectives, and allowing a chance to bring up questions or confusions. If you have a test or quiz coming up, then the study group can focus only on the material for that test or quiz. You can do a general review of the material and then quiz each other by either making up your own questions, using flashcards, using the book's review questions, referring to the syllabus for course objectives, and/or using a study guide if you were provided one. You'll see where you are weak and what material you need more time with. You can then go study it on your own time.

Members should come with the reading already done and solo study time done before attempting to meet with the group. Otherwise, it turns into 2 people trying to explain everything to the one person who hasn't opened their book.

It might take a couple of tries and trying out different groups but I do think study groups are helpful. You can't bring anything new to the table when it's just yourself. It helps to hear other perspectives and ideas.