College study groups, also known as study circles, are groups of students who meet regularly to study together for a common course or subject. College study groups can offer many benefits for students, such as:
- Improving learning outcomes
- Increasing motivation and engagement
- Developing social skills
- Building self-confidence
However, college study groups can also have some drawbacks, such as:
- Wasting time
- Creating conflicts
- Distracting from the material
- Lowering the standards
Therefore, knowing how to form and participate in a college study group is crucial for the success of your academic journey.
Do’s
- Choose your group members wisely. When choosing group members, look for people who are:
- Similar to you in terms of goals, interests, and abilities
- Committed, responsible, and respectful
- Diverse in terms of strengths, perspectives, and backgrounds
- Set clear goals and expectations. Before you start your study session, agree on what you want to achieve, how you want to achieve it, and when you want to achieve it. You should also agree on the roles and responsibilities of each group member.
- Be independent and self-reliant. While studying with others can be helpful and enjoyable, you should not rely solely on your group for your learning. You should still do your own reading, research, homework, and revision before and after each study session.
- Use Explain Learning to join or create a college study circle online. Explain Learning is an online platform that connects students who want to learn together. Explain Learning allows you to join or create a college study circle for any course, subject, or level, and chat, video call, or share files with your group members. Explain Learning also provides you with access to thousands of courses, videos, quizzes, and flashcards that can help you learn better and faster.
Don’ts
- Make your group too big or too small. A good rule of thumb is to choose a group size that is between 3 and 6 members.
- Rely solely on your group. While studying with others can be helpful and enjoyable, you should not rely solely on your group for your learning. You should still do your own reading, research, homework, and revision before and after each study session.
- Waste time. College study groups should be productive and focused. Avoid spending too much time socializing or discussing irrelevant topics.
- Create conflicts. Disagreements are inevitable in any group setting. However, it is important to resolve conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner.
- Distract from the material. It is important to stay focused on the material that you are studying. Avoid bringing in distractions, such as cell phones or laptops.
- Lower the standards. College study groups should be challenging and stimulating. Avoid lowering the standards by allowing group members to coast or do less than their fair share.
By following these do’s and don’ts, you can make the most of your college study group experience. Happy studying!
If you want to experience the benefits of college group study for yourself or your child, sign up for Explain Learning today at https://explainlearning.com