Study Groups
Why Join a Study Group?
Forming study groups is a great way to improve your academic performance. This is true because all of the members bring different strengths. One student may be a good note taker while another may be a good listener. You are able to benefit by comparing notes and reviewing them together to improve your grasp of the material. Here are some other reasons to join a study group:
- A study group can motivate you to study when you may not feel like it. The other group members can be a source of encouragement.
- You may be reluctant to ask a question in class. You will find it easier to do so in a study group.
- Being in a study group can increase your commitment to study because the group members are depending on you to participate. You will not want to let them down.
- Group members will listen and discuss information and concepts during the study sessions. These activities add a strong auditory dimension to your learning experience.
- One or more group members are likely to understand something you do not and vice versa so all members can benefit from other members.
- You can learn valuable new study habits from the other group members.
- Teaching/explaining information and concepts to the other group members will help you reinforce your mastery of the information and concepts. Studies show that teaching someone else something reinforces your understanding of it.
- Let's face it - studying can sometimes be boring. Interacting with the other group members can make studying enjoyable.
Forming Study Groups
There are a couple of ways to form a study group. You can ask persons in your class if they want to form a study group or you can enlist the help of your professor to ask the whole class who would be interested in joining. The Center for Learning Excellence can also be of help forming a study group! Just let us know what subject you would like to have a study group for and we’ll do the rest! We can even help you get your group off to a great start by giving you tips for a successful study group and alerting you to the possible pitfalls some study groups encounter. Contact us for more information.
| Jenny Briney Director 217-479-7178 jennifer.briney@mac.edu |
Dan Callihan Assistant Director 217-479-7131 dan.callihan@mac.edu |
Last updated: May 1, 2013
