Studying in a group can be useful for students who are unable to do it by themselves. By cooperating in a group students can put in a collaborative effort and enhance their way to get a better understanding of a given topic. I also struggled to understand simple topics in class and failed to remember certain methods but after studying in a group for some time the whole thing became easier to grasp and complete.
Here, I’ll be discussing the Do’s and Don’ts when studying in a group which will give you the best results in this joint effort!
1. Understanding:
Remember that the person in front of you is also a fellow classmate, even if he is not an expert on any certain topic! Yes, maybe he is able to understand a topic better than you did but by no means is he a master. So always try to have an open mind and be accepting that someone else is willing to help you out! Most people would avoid the extra hassle of helping another person in class so be grateful to your fellow mates and try to understand what they are explaining!
2. Group selection:
Firstly, you must be wary of whom you want to invite with you in a study session. Inviting people who may cause more distraction than help should be avoided. Remember that you all are there to learn something together and not to waste time! Be the person to always hush if your friends are causing a disturbance, there’s no shame in being responsible.
3. Avoid using electronic devices:
The problem with most group study sessions is that everyone knows that taking pics or videos at random not only loses focus in study but also creates a need to show others that you are studying. This should be avoided as it creates the idea that we are going to study to show others and not to learn something.
4. Plan ahead:
Planning a day or two before a group study session can be very helpful. You can prepare your notes, bring in the necessary equipment like a calculator, books, etc., practice the problems beforehand in order to locate the errors in your understanding, etc.
5. Divide and conquer:
By dividing your lessons into smaller chunks you can easily go through them one by one and finish much more efficiently. Having less on mind while studying can be effective especially if you have a lot of work to do.
6. Sharing notes:
To be a part of the group everyone must contribute somehow. Try to share your notes with each other and have a sense of teamwork. Everyone is in this together so each person should contribute to the group’s main cause: Learning.
7. Set up goals:
By setting up a specific goal to accomplish you and your friends can achieve more in less time. This will help you focus and understand the importance of doing a better job. But don’t try to do too much in a short time. Be consistent instead of being unrealistic. Set up proper goals, you can even talk with your group members about which topics you want to finish within a given day.
8. Be a good listener:
Try to understand what your group members are saying and understand the essence. They are not teachers so their teaching methods won’t be world class but they are some fellow students who want to assist you in understanding a topic. Don’t make them feel like you’re not trying to understand while they do everything in their power to understand what you are doing.
Cajun Koi explains very well in his short video about the whole process, you can understand the fundamentals of group studies from his presentation.
9 .Take notes:
Taking notes all the time will help you to understand a topic later on. Even if you cannot fully grasp a topic, remember to always write down anything related to it so you can go through it later on and understand what you missed! Taking proper notes can be essential for revisions as well.
Conclusion
Studying in a group will surely boost your performance in the long run! So always try to prefer group study sessions instead of studying alone. This will also help you boost your social skills and communication skills. You can also learn the different approaches a person uses in the same problems which will give you a lot of insights.
Do you think group studies are better than studying alone? Tell me in the comments below!
As a seasoned content writer specializing in self-development and AI tools, I draw from my past experiences to create insightful and engaging content. My work is dedicated to helping readers enhance their personal growth and leverage AI for better productivity.
