A study group typically refers to a group of people who meet up regularly to discuss or study similar subjects.
Often, students don’t understand concepts in college or are afraid to ask the teacher. That’s why when they do group study, they discuss with their friends, find solutions together, and queries also get resolved. And studying alone isn’t very effective because you just get bored reading alone, get frustrated quickly, and feel demotivated. Therefore, to increase studentms productivity, they should do group study so that along with studying, they can discuss, solve together and studying becomes interesting so there’s excitement to study next time too.
In this article, we will first understand what a study group is and how it can support your learning. We will then explore six reasons why you should form a study group along with practical tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your group study sessions.
What is a Study Group?
Study groups are very common among high school and college students who meet up before exams to study or revise various topics related to their subject. There’s no fixed number of students required for a study group. A college or high school level group study consists of five to twenty students. The number decreases at a professional level. Students who find it extremely difficult to focus in a large group setting can benefit from group study sessions where the size of students is typically smaller. However, study groups are not limited to such setups. Sometimes, a study group setting can also be found within companies and corporations where coworkers come together to discuss various projects.
Each study group is different and consists of members of different capabilities and learning speed. The abilities and competencies of each member must be considered before deciding upon the topics and portions to be covered and the speed at which these will be covered. Oftentimes, in many such study groups, a leader, who is actively studying the topic at present, leads the discussion and guides or mentors the rest of the students. The benefit of such a process is that the leader is able to revise and recollect the topics already learnt whereas the students can benefit from the knowledge passed on to them. Sounds effective, right?
Group study is also an excuse that most of us have used to hang out with friends before an exam.
MOM: Where are you going?
ME: For a group study
MOM: Where were you for so long?
ME: We were studying together!
MOM: You have been spending a lot of time on your computer.
ME: I’m a part of a study group online.
Do these conversations sound familiar? While group study is often considered unproductive by teachers and parents, it can be a very useful study tool when used properly.
6 Reasons Why You Should Form A Study Group
Group studies have an array of benefits to offer to students. From being a more fun and integrating process to providing students with a sense of accountability, the benefits of group studies are endless. It is an extremely fun and effective way to study, especially during exams, provided you focus on the study aspect as well and not just the fun part of it.
Why are study groups so effective (backed by research)? A popular research on group study by Washington University professor Keith Sawyer revealed that the conversations that happen in a study group help the students absorb the material as opposed to sitting with the textbook alone and trying to cram up a topic.
He quoted, “Study groups are so effective because they provide a way for students to make the lecture notes their own. When students hear the voice of the professor and are taking notes, they are so busy writing that it’s hard for them to really absorb the material. What happens in the study group setting is that through these interaction dynamics that we identified, students could absorb the lecture notes and make them their own.”
So, the next time your mom prevents you from going to a group study, stating that it’s just a waste of time, you can present her with some of the points mentioned below (given that you are actually committed to making the best use of your study time).
1. Beat procrastination:
Sometimes, procrastination can be your greatest enemy. You may have the skills, the resources and the time to study, but may find yourself procrastinating and putting things off until the last hour when you have no choice but to study. I have done this multiple times, when I don’t study a particular subject until the last minute. I even say stuff like “I work best under pressure” or “It is a theory subject, there is no point studying so early, I’m going to forget it in a few days” and so on. And with hindsight, I can say that putting off studies until the very last is a bad idea. Because the truth is that no one really works their best under pressure in the long term. In fact, there are chances of cracking up like an egg when under the stress and pressure of the last hour.
Group studies help you beat procrastination. Each study session has a set agenda or a portion of the syllabus to cover and that way, you cannot skip a particular topic or subject entirely. It enables you to develop a sense of accountability towards yourself and towards others in the group, thus ensuring maximum utilisation of the given time and resources to boost your results.
2. Gain a wider understanding of the subject:
As mentioned earlier, study groups usually cover a topic or subject that is decided before the session itself and each student comes prepared with the same. Group study sessions enable the students to gain a wider and deeper understanding of the subject through effective debates and discussions. Also, as different students prepare individually before the session and share their learning with the group during the study sessions, it enables them to gain different perspectives and viewpoints of the same topic.
3. Become a team player:
The future of work is going to be collaborative to a great extent. Employers seek candidates who are team players and those who can work comfortably in groups. Group study sessions consist of various students from different backgrounds and different learning capacities. A group may have some slow learners and the rest will have to learn to deal with it. Students who prefer to work and study solo will have to adapt to the group setting. Different people have different ways or methods of learning. Someone may be an oratory learner while someone may be more of an observer or listener. A particular student may prefer walking around while studying while someone else might prefer having a designated seating space to work from. Group studies enable its members to become team players and work together as a group.
4. Aid in self-discovery:
Sometimes, group studies can also aid in self-discovery. Different students have different study patterns and habits. Similarly, people also have different timings during which they are most productive. You may be a morning person or a night owl. You may be a visual learner or an oratory learner or someone who learns from practical experiences. You may be good at researching but not presenting. So group studies help you by getting inspired by study patterns/habits of other students and improve upon your weak spots. It also helps you identify your best study patterns/habits that you can share with other students.
5. Change in study environment
I’m sure most of you are bored with the typical classroom setting with a blackboard and whitewashed walls. With study groups, you can choose the location of your choice. It could be your friend’s house or a nearby cafe. Just make sure the place isn’t too noisy or crowded. You could also ask any member of the faculty for access to unused conference rooms and or classrooms for conducting your study sessions.
6. A tool to revise before the exams:
Even if you have completed your syllabus for the upcoming exam, group studies are an excellent tool to revise the same. By teaching others, you can brush up the topics that you’ve already studied while at the same time, helping colleagues or classmates with their studies. Group studies also enable you to gain well-rounded insights into the topic by understanding the viewpoints of the other students or members of the group. The things discussed in the group setting are easier to recall as they are better stored in memory as a meaningful conversation, as compared to a certain boring piece of information from your book.
Conclusion:
Forming a study group can make learning more engaging, productive and less overwhelming. From beating procrastination to creating a more motivating study environment, studying with others can help you build stronger study habits and improve your academic experience.
I hope that after reading this article, you are aware of the benefits of studying in groups. However, keep in mind the tips for an effective study session. I cannot stress enough on the need to choose the ideal study group and setting goals to enhance productivity. Although it is harmless to have some amount of fun with friends while studying, keep in mind the purpose and objective of such study groups.
Now that you understand the benefits of forming a study group, you may be wondering how to find or join one. In our next article, “How to Join a Study Group Without Being Super Awkward,” we will share practical tips to help you approach other students, join a study group with confidence, and make the experience feel more comfortable.