Study Group Formation Services

How do I form an effective study group?  Who in my class is interested in forming one?  Where on campus can we meet?  When we meet, how do we go about approaching the material?  These are just some of the questions that we can assist you with. This program provides detailed information on how to go about setting up an effective study group and suggests locations on campus where study sessions may take place.  If you would like to learn more about creating effective study groups and the numerous locations on campus to study, please see the tabs and information below!

What does a study group do?

1. Reinforces, clarifies, and deepens your learning by providing the opportunity to teach. (Research indicates that many students improve their grades by supplementing individual study with group study.)

2. Provides feedback -- before the test -- on how well you are learning the material.

3. Provides practical advice on which courses and professors to take or avoid.

4. Prepares you for the working world, with its emphasis on teamwork. (You might indicate on your resume that you organized several study groups.)

5. Provides a "support group." All students feel discouraged at times, but a study group can "refuel" your motivation and make studying more fun.

6. Helps you overcome shyness about discussing issues in class.

7. Helps you become motivated to study, because you know your study group is depending upon your preparation.

How does this service work?

1. This service assists you in getting to know your likeminded classmates by contacting them electronically and evaluating their willingness to participate.

2. We then Invite and coordinate 1 to 4 students to meet at a public location on campus by sending around an electronic sign-up sheet.

3.  Each student will be encouraged to study individually before the group meets.

What should be our group agenda?

1. Some groups begin their session by comparing lecture notes.

2. Most groups use their lecture notes, a lecture handout, or a study guide written by the professor as an outline to guide the order of topics to discuss. If you are a student in the health sciences, an organ system review is often effective.

3. IF YOU PREFER A FORMAL GROUP: At the end of each session write an agenda for the next session, with each group member assigned to prepare/present specific material. Volunteer to be the presenter in the area you find most difficult. Research this area thoroughly and become an expert. Develop five questions to ask the others.

4. IF YOU PREFER INFORMALITY: Decide at the beginning of the session what topics you will study and how you will study. You might assign topics/single lectures to each other and then work independently for a time to come up with 5 to 10 questions on each topic or lecture.

5. Create and Xerox summary sheets and charts to share.

6. Have each member write a practice test and give these tests to each other.

7. List your group's remaining areas of confusion and go to the professor or T.A. for clarification.

Where could we meet on campus?

1.  We encourage students to study in open public locations.  There are several venues on campus that can house study groups.  These venues will be sought out and e-mailed to each study group member (so as to not over crowd one particular area).

Common Challenges

1. If your group begins to deteriorate into merely a social group, use a strict agenda and a strong convener. Or, simply ask, "Will that be on the test?" when group members get off track. Many groups report that most of their time wasting occurs during late night sessions. Decide ahead of time when you will stop studying for the evening. Also, to stay focused, schedule regular breaks.

2. Don't allow group members to attend unprepared. To keep members who are failing to do their fair share is to enable and encourage irresponsibility. Remember, you are not providing free tutoring.

3. Don't allow lengthy complaints about courses or professors during group time; do this afterwards if you must.

4. Encourage members to reveal their weaknesses so that they can strengthen them. This will only happen if members refrain from critical comments about one another.

Remember, effective study groups require that members develop skills in group dynamics. If at first you don't succeed, discuss the problems with your group and try again. If all else fails, you might try again with another group of students.

Page updated on 07/12/2005