Study groups can be a great way to enhance your understanding of the material you cover in class. They give you the chance to discuss ideas and explain concepts to other people. However, a study group won’t automatically be a success — you need to put in the effort to find the right people and make the most of your sessions.
1. Invite the Right People
Ask people to join your study group who are committed to doing well in your class. Since study sessions should not be a social activity, don’t just invite your friends — this will increase the risk you get nothing done. Instead, choose students who you know will regularly turn up to study sessions and will stay focused.
In addition, you need to think about how many people you want in your group. There should be enough participants to keep the conversation flowing, but not too many that it’s difficult for everyone to participate. Between three and four people is ideal.
Lastly, one person needs to be the leader of the group — you may like to rotate this role among yourselves. The leader will facilitate sessions, making sure you finish all the tasks within the time allotted. The leader will also be responsible for reminding other members of the next session and let them know how they need to prepare.
2. Create a Schedule
The next step is to decide when you’ll meet and how you’ll use your study sessions. The most convenient for group members will be to meet at the same time once or twice a week. You also need to decide where you’ll meet and for how long.
Determine what to cover in each study session in advance. You could discuss this in the group chat a few days before you meet or at the end of the previous session. Figuring out what to cover shouldn’t be too complicated — it will often be related to the material you covered in classes leading up to the session.
3. Structure Your Study Sessions
Create a structure you can apply to every study session. For instance, you may like to dedicate the first part of the session to discussing doubts any group members have. This will give those who are struggling the chance to improve their understanding and those who are confident the opportunity to explain concepts — which is one of the best ways to test your knowledge.
The next part of the session could be completing specific tasks. These could be homework tasks, questions from your textbook, or practice problems you find online.
End each session with a review of what you covered and discuss anything group members need to do before the next session. Of course, you’ll be in contact in case anything changes.
It’s crucial you have somewhere you can meet with your study group that is convenient for everyone. An ideal option is off-campus housing. Ottawa students who live at THEO can use any of our 12 study rooms and two conference rooms as well as the printers. However, these are just a few of our great onsite amenities — we also have a movie lounge, rec room, gym, art room, basketball court, and more. Book a tour to see all the great facilities for yourself.