Forming a Dynamic Study Group in College

If you are currently enrolled in college as an undergraduate or a graduate student, you know how stressful studying for quizzes, midterms, and finals can be. Also, there may be times when you just cannot grasp the concept of certain material right away. Not to worry… other students find themselves in these same situations.  Since this is the case, it would be advantages for you to get together with other students to study as a group.
Study groups are a good way to connect and learn with other students who share related academic concentrations to help improve your subject(s) knowledge, test scores, and your GPA.  But you should be particular about who you select to be a part of your group.  Read further to find how you can form a dynamic study group.

~Select students~
First, search for students that you would like to study with. These students do not necessarily have to be your close friends, but select students based upon good academic standings and their willingness to participate in group study .  It’s best to select students at the beginning of each semester as to cover all pertinent material early on and continuing until the semester ends.

Be sure to exchange contact information with each member…home phone, cell phone, work phone, and an e-mail address.  You should also appoint a group leader (or ask for volunteers) who will be responsible for contacting group members to keep them abreast of a change in meeting location and other relevant concerns.

~Limit group members~
Try to limit your group to four to six members.  You don’t want to add too many to the group because you might lose the attention of some of the group members and it’s also easier to keep up with and work with less people.

~Self-directed learners~
Students should be prepared to make improvements in their course(s) assignments and should take the initiative to pursue academic learning aside from the classroom setting.

~Reliable students~
Students should discipline themselves to meet with other group members at the location that was agreed upon by all.  It’s also imperative that each member arrive at the time agreed to as well.  When members are constantly late or no-show…it takes away from the cohesiveness of the group structure.  It will also slow down progressive leaning in that the other students will have to fill them in on what they missed when everyone should be covering new material.

~Contributing students~
Each group member should contribute their share of knowledge, class notes, and ideas in an effort to attain group goals and increase each one’s chances for improving grades and a better understanding of the course(s) material overall.

~Select study location(s)~
Select a centralized location that is convenient for everyone to get to and that is conducive for studying.  Make sure you choose an area that is free from distractions but is also designed for group study.  Keep in mind that you will need to get permission from proper authorities at certain facilities before you can begin a group study on their premises.

Libraries, study rooms, and other school meeting areas are all good places to study. Circumstances may cause you to have to change your meeting locations from time to time. However, don’t let that deter you from meeting someplace else. Keep in mind that home may not be the best place tostudy because of possible distractions.

~Agree to meet regularly~
Once everyone agrees upon a location, keep the meetings regular.  Don’t slack off, but continue to meet until the end of the semesters. In the event you have to cancel a meeting, try to reschedule within that same week.

~Bring study materials~
Each group member should bring writing utensils, writing paper, class books, and other pertinent material to study with and to take good notes.

TIPS:
* It's good to select individuals from various backgrounds if possible.