How to Get a Study Group Started - 7 Ways
In a previous article, we talked about the importance of joining a study group. In this article, we're going to look at ways to start a productive study group.
Here is what you should do to get a study group started:
1. Select serious classmates.
The quality of your study group is going to depend on the students in it. That's why it's important to choose study partners who are serious about school. You also need to find classmates who are dependable and want everyone to succeed.
2. Choose three to five students to join.
A large study group simply doesn't work very well. Larger groups can easily lead to cliques - and it makes study time less focused. It's much better to have a group of three to five students all seriously focused on the same study material. It's also easier for everyone to share the same desk area when there is just a small group of students.
3. Choose days and times that fit with everyone's schedule.
A good study session should last about 90 minutes. And you should try and plan on getting together with your study group at least once a week.
4. Choose one location.
Try to choose one location that you will study at regularly. This can be a library, an empty classroom, coffee shop, or someone's house. The more serious an environment, the better. And study at the same place throughout your semester. It gets your mind and body focused on studying.
5. Decide on study goals for each session.
Every time you meet, make sure you all have some central goals in mind: Review lecture notes, prepare for exam, discuss readings, memorize flash cards, etc. This will ensure everyone is on the same page.
6. Choose one leader per study session.
The study session leader will make sure that everyone stays on task. If people start goofing off, the leader is to get everyone back to studying. The leader can also make sure that the goals of the study session get accomplished. You can change the leader each study period or choose one for the entire semester.
7. Make a list of phone numbers and emails.
Make sure everyone has a list of phone numbers and emails of everyone else. This will ensure that everyone can be contacted quickly in case you need to cancel a study session or change the location/time.
These 7 ways will help you create a productive study group.
