When learning in college, many students join study groups.
Depending on the members and atmosphere, study groups can be either help a student grow or can pull a student down.
In today’s post, I discuss the potential advantages of joining a study group. Remember, though, that these advantages are only present in good study groups.
1. Procrastination Solution
Because study groups meet at regular times, attending students cannot procrastinate.
If alone, a student might postpone studying until the night before class. When in a study group, however, students have to be present at a specific time, and they are not able to procrastinate (unless they skip the study group completely).
If you struggle with procrastination, a study group might just be the solution for you!
2. Learn Faster
Working together, students in study groups can generally learn faster than students working alone.
For instance, some part of the textbook that seems completely confusing to you could be quite clear to another student. In a study group, instead of spending valuable time puzzling over the difficulty, you can learn quickly by simply asking a question.
In addition, you can help your fellow students also when they have difficulties understanding something that you do understand.
3. Get New Perspectives
If you study by yourself, you will always see your material from the same perspective – yours.
While this may not be a problem, getting fresh perspectives on a topic can help you learn it more thoroughly.
Study groups are the perfect places to find these new perspectives. As you listen and ask questions, you will soon start noticing a wide variety of different viewpoint on the same idea.
This will force you to think more about your position and will, therefore, develop your critical thinking skills while helping you study.
4. Learn New Study Skills
In addition to learning new perspectives on a topic, you can also find new study techniques.
During the college years, each student develops his own particular study methods. While yours may work excellently, you probably can still find ways to improve your learning abilities and sharpen your mind.
By joining a study group, you will have opportunity to observe a wide variety of study methods in action. After considering the pros and cons, you can improve your own study regimen by incorporating the best methods with your own.
In addition, you can help your other study members improve by sharing your favorite study tricks also.
5. Breaks The Monotony
Studying by yourself, especially for long periods of time, can become a monotonous activity.
However, by joining a study group, you can break this monotony… and learn faster!
Because of the social aspect of a study group, you will always have someone to discuss the topic with when you start struggling or find the topic tedious.
In addition, the auditory factor of study groups can help auditory learners and students who dislike the silence of studying alone.
If you find some class particularly tedious, consider joining a study group to make it more enjoyable.
6. Fill In Learning Gaps
Study groups provide an excellent opportunity to fill in gaps in your notes.
By comparing notes with other students, you can evaluate your accuracy, fix any errors, and get ideas for better note taking.
If, on the other hand, you are a great note taker, you can help other students who had note taking problems fix their mistakes and learn better techniques.
Conclusion
Before you go and join a study group, remember that all groups are not created equal. Choose your companions carefully or study by yourself.
Have you joined study groups? What are your thoughts?
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I have been meaning to join a study group this semester, but I have failed to do so thus far. These 6 reasons to join a group though, may have given me that extra boost to stop procrastinating and get together with a study group.
Group studies can really help students to be at their top form. It stimulates interest and increases confidence. Also effective group studies also improve classroom management strategies and helps in norturing sharing and learning collective efforts at the same time.Nice post!
I found this article truly beneficial. Procrastination solution will help the student develop discipline. Learn faster will happen because of the teamwork. Our learning is different and we will find it easier if we can exchange ideas with each other. Get a new perspective will enhance an individual’s critical thinking and reasoning skill but I suggest don’t argue too much if your point of view is different from others. Learn new study skills can be achieved if you will study different methods of studying. The more senses involve in the learning process, the better. Breaks the monotony is simply learning using the 3 methods available namely: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. And the last part fill in learning gaps is pretty apparent because if you miss something, all you need to do is just ask.
The group mentality if what I think makes it most effective. If you know that someone is relying on you, then you will do what you have to to get the job done.
Although I haven’t study groups that much, I do know a number of students who have benefited hugely from these. I know of several cases of students who got a full letter-grade boost just from studying in a group. It can work wonders.
this is a wonderful article giving new insights to group study. thanks
A concise argument for becoming a member of an effective study group.
Any study groups using a blog site to share info? Have any used “VoiceThread” as a sharing mechanism? Any recording their discussions to share with members that can’t attend a session (mp3)?
Thanks.
My experience with study groups has been that of a room full of 8 guys distracting each other with Duke Nukem soundboards. That said, study groups can be very effective as long as everyone in the group is truly focused and not there just for the social atmosphere.
I also definitely agree with your point on getting new perspectives. That, to me, is the main benefit of a study group. Also, groups help you catch up on things you missed in class.
The group perspective is what makes it work. Some folks just need that motivation. I don’t think though that it works for everyone.