Are you looking for effective ways to retain information? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, many students find that traditional learning methods, such as lectures and textbooks, aren’t enough to help them actually remember new facts and concepts.
But did you know that discussing topics and teaching others can significantly increase your memory retention? According to research, students can retain up to 70% of information by discussing it and an impressive 95% by teaching it to others.
And that’s where study groups come in. They can help you memorize information better than ever by engaging in all the ways of perceiving information. Besides, they increase your motivation and teach you valuable skills.
Sounds interesting? Then, keep reading! In this article, our custom-writing experts will explain how to find perfect teammates and study together effectively.
🎓 Why You Should Form a Study Group
Before going any further, you need to understand what a study group actually is. Well, it is a team of students who meet regularly to study or work on assignments. They might gather once a week or right before exams in order to prepare together.
But why even bother forming a study group? Well, there are a whole lot of advantages! Check them out:
…And Why It May Not Be the Best Idea
Unfortunately, studying in groups is no cure-all. It has its drawbacks, and you should know about them right away. Consider the following aspects before you decide to create a study group:
- Being surrounded by people can be very distracting. This especially goes for big study groups and those consisting of close friends. If you’re easily distracted by others, meeting as a group is not the best idea.
- Some of your teammates may hinder your productivity. Should they be envious, lazy, or just inconsiderate, they may have a negative influence over you, forcing you to focus on them instead of working on your own progress.
- You can’t personalize your learning. Your team may require you to focus on topics that are not interesting to you personally. You won’t always be able to choose the topics you cover and adjust your study process accordingly.
- You may all have similar weaknesses. Studying in a group is especially advantageous if you each have different strengths. Groups where all members are weak in the same subject are typically less effective.
So, Is Studying in Groups Right for You?
If you are unsure, try to answer the following questions:
❓ Do you need to have as few distractions as possible while studying?
If you’re easily distracted by other people, or just like to study in a quiet atmosphere, then joining a study group is not the best idea.
❓ Do you want to have more control over your study environment?
The main purpose of a study group is to work together, so you won’t be able to do what you want. You’ll have to focus on the topics that your group finds important.
❓ Do you prefer having a personalized schedule?
Being a group means adjusting your timetable to fit the needs of your teammates. You’ll have to come to a specific location at a specific time, and you may even have to cancel your plans to avoid being late.
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then perhaps learning in a group is not for you. And that’s completely fine! Studying alone also has many advantages, and a lot of students prefer it that way.
If your answer is “no,” keep reading!
🙋 How to Choose Members for Your Study Group
So, you’ve decided to create a study group. That’s great! Now, let’s explore this process step-by-step, starting with a crucial question: how do you choose members for your study group?
1. Decide on the Number of People
The perfect size for study groups is 2 to 5 members. If you go above that number, your group can get out of hand, and the individual needs of its members may get ignored. Also, it might become impossible for you to manage the schedules of more than 5 people.
2. Spread the Word
Even though it’s a good idea to select study group members who are in the same class as you, it’s also worth checking out other classes. You can even ask professors help you with your search. Maybe their students have valuable insights on your subject!
It’s also possible to look for group members online. The only downside to this method is that you may end up with teammates who live too far from you, so you won’t be able to meet in person. But if you don’t mind, then go for it.
3. Identify Suitable Candidates
Being friends is not an obligatory requirement for potential team members. Sure, it is more comfortable to study with familiar people than with strangers. But if you want to get the most out of group study, then you may want to invite those who:
- Can offer value to your study group;
- Are knowledgeable in several subjects;
- Are responsible;
- Don’t mind helping you in areas where you lack knowledge.
When choosing your group members, try to be selective. If too many people are willing to join your team, then we’d recommend refusing some and picking only those who are the most responsible and attentive.
4. Discuss Each Other’s Personal Learning Styles
In order to get the most out of your group, it’s best to consider the personal learning styles of your team members. Personal learning styles refer to the way you prefer to study in relation to other people. There are 2 of them:
We don’t recommend including intrapersonal learners into your study group. They probably won’t gain anything from it, as it will just make them feel uncomfortable. Intrapersonal learners are more successful when they study on their own.
🚀 Determining the Roles Within Your Group
Highlighting the individual skills of each group member and finding a role for everyone will allow you to create the perfect study group where no one is left out and everyone participates in the process. But what are these roles, and how to assign them? Keep reading to learn about it!
5 Roles to Choose From
In fact, there are many roles that can be assigned in a group. We recommend you to focus on the 5 main ones. The first 3 roles are a must, and the last 2 are additional options for larger groups:
- The facilitator keeps track of what occurs during group meetings and make sure everybody is doing their part. They are the leader of the group.
- The clock watcher is the master of time and the right hand of the facilitator. This person organizes the plan for the meeting, structures it, and allocates time to complete each task. During the study process, the clock watcher tells the group when to switch to the next topic.
- The note taker keeps a log of upcoming objectives and notes everything that has already been completed.
- The reflector overlooks the team’s progress and suggests ways to improve the study process.
- The questioner comes into play whenever something is forgotten or neglected. This role requires noting everything that was left out. The questioner also makes sure everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinions.
Strategies for Assigning the Group Roles
Assigning study group roles can be a difficult task. But we’re here to tell you how to do it right! Here are the key strategies:
🔝 How to Study in Groups Effectively: 11 Tips
Now that you know everything about creating a study group, and perhaps you’ve already gathered one. Of course, you want it to be effective and have all the features of a successful study group:
- Everyone is aware of their objectives.
- The group members get along well.
- All members feel that they belong.
- There is a sense of shared accountability for ensuring common success.
- Group members communicate freely.
- Everyone hears and respects each other’s viewpoints.
- Introducing fresh concepts triggers attention and interest.
- Members share roles and obligations.
- Disagreements and conflicts are addressed and settled peacefully.
How can you achieve all this? Read on to find out! We will share great tips that will help you better organize your team, avoid mistakes, and get the most out of group study.
1. Choose a Meeting Place
The meeting place where you gather should be comfortable and accessible. Make sure you find a private, quiet area away from household distractions like the TV, PC, family members, or pets. When it comes to furniture, there must be a table around which you can all gather and enough chairs for each group member.
Here are some good and bad ideas for meeting with your team:
💡 Bonus tip:
Check your university or school for purpose-built group study rooms you can use. These rooms usually include everything you might need like blackboards, books, tables, and slots for charging your laptop. Just don’t forget to ask your professor before reserving one of these rooms.
2. Consider Creating a Virtual Study Group
There can be situations when you won’t be able to meet your group in person, should it be bad weather or your group mates being too far away. Consider a plan B and gather online.
Not sure how to do that? Check out our suggestions of top apps that will help you organize meetings and monitor them.
Best Apps for Hosting Study Group Meetings
Here’s a list of tried-and-tested software that will help you gather your groupmates from any place in the world:
💡 Bonus tip:
We recommend asking your peers to turn their cameras on during meetings so that you can see each other. This simple action will increase your involvement and you can be sure that no one is slacking off. It’s also great because you can see your teammates and their reaction to your propositions.
Study Group Apps for Monitoring Progress
You can set tasks, check the performance of your group members, and monitor their progress by using the following apps:
3. Decide When to Meet
It’s best to gather your study group once or twice a week. Getting together before an exam is also a great idea, but for the best outcome you’ll need to meet regularly throughout the semester.
Here are some additional tips:
- An optimal meeting shouldn’t exceed 60-90 minutes in duration.
- If some of your teammates keep saying they can’t make it, ask them if they still want to participate in your group.
- If one or two members of your group can’t make it, consider gathering a group without them, but be sure to send them everything that was discussed during your meeting.
4. Make Sure Everyone Is Prepared
The most effective study sessions are those where everyone comes ready and prepared. To achieve this, follow these simple tips:
- Choose what you want to cover in your next meeting together with your groupmates.
- Keep track of tasks and assign them to every member of the group.
- Consider using Gmail or Google Documents to make the notes accessible to all of your teammates.
- Be sure to pick the most urgent and important tasks first.
- Decide who will present each of the tasks as you go over them together.
- Ensure that your team is focused on the results.
5. Start by Creating an Agenda
It’s important to create a proper plan (or an agenda) before organizing a meeting. The agenda will outline the meeting’s objectives and serve as a roadmap for the whole session. Having an agenda will help you stay focused on your goals and avoid distractions.
A proper agenda answers to the following questions:
We highly recommend creating the agenda in advance so that the essential preparations are completed before engaging in the study process. Also, make sure you collect everything you’ve discussed previously. Doing so can help you avoid spending too much time discussing the previous material.
💡 Bonus tip:
It can be tempting to concentrate solely on one topic per session. However, we advise you to select multiple related topics to make your studies more productive.
Here’s a sample of a completed agenda:
Example:
- State the subjects and topics that will be discussed.
- Examine and analyze class notes and records from previous meetings.
- Ask everyone for ideas or proposals.
- See if anyone has any questions.
- Begin working on the new material.
- Do a brief roundup.
- Create an agenda for the next meeting.
6. Set Start and End Times
Time is your most significant asset. Even before you create a study group, you’ll have to make sure everybody can always make it on time with no delays. There is nothing worse than 4 people having to wait around for one person who has overslept!
Try to organize your meetings to fall at the same time and at the same location. This will make it easier for your group members to prepare before coming to the meeting.
💡 Bonus tip:
If you have completed your objectives before the end time, it is okay to extend the end of the study period for several minutes. Just make sure everyone’s on board!
7. Make Use of Task Managers and Productivity Timers
The internet is full of great apps that can help you organize and manage your meetings. With these apps, you will be able to prioritize tasks like a pro.
Check them out below!
Best Task Managers for Study Groups
Task management apps help you save precious time by prioritizing tasks and concentrating your attention on what matters most. Here are some of our favorites:
Best Time Management Apps for Study Groups
Timers are also very useful. Working on a complex project can easily overwhelm your team. Before you know it, several hours have passed, and you haven’t made much progress. So, be sure to track your time carefully!
These are the best options to choose from:
8. Pick a Format for Your Study Session
Knowing how to organize your study group meeting will make the session much more productive. After all, every session has unique goals! Think about them while picking a suitable format.
Here are some suggestions to choose from:
9. Use Active Learning Strategies
Now let’s turn to the study methods you may use within a chosen format. The point is to actively engage with the study materials as opposed to passive methods such as reading. We suggest you try a variety of strategies and work out which ones are most effective for your group.
Here are some suggestions:
10. Start and End Each Session with a Review
Take a few minutes at the end of your group study session to discuss your overall progress with your peers. We also recommend you make notes so that you have a point of comparison for your next session. Being able to compare your progress will motivate your group and help you notice all the gaps you need to work on.
💡 Bonus tip:
It’s also worth doing quick progress reports or small conclusions after each topic is covered. It’s a fun and easy way to use retrieval practices.
11. Stay Motivated and Productive
Motivation allows you and your teammates to work efficiently and avoid slacking. To boost your motivation, consider the following tips:
- Don’t be afraid of asking questions. If there is anything that bothers you and you can’t resolve it on your own, discuss it with you group and don’t shy away from asking for additional explanations.
- Invent a system of rewards. For example, if you and your teammates manage to understand a complex topic quickly, you can finish the meeting earlier. Or, if one of you gets ahead of the others, then this person will be granted the role of a teacher.
- Make a checklist of tasks. Hang it on the wall, and cross out every task that is completed. There is nothing more motivating than a completed checklist.
- Allow others to lead your team. If a person is given the role of the leader, they will automatically feel more responsible and motivated.
- Voice displeasure when your teammate is being lazy. If your group is working hard and someone is slacking off, it’s important to guide that person back to collaboratively engaging with the group.
👥 Study Group Dynamics: What to Keep in Mind
Keeping a positive and friendly dynamic within your group is a must, even if your group consists of total strangers. Naturally, some will be more active than others, some may try to dominate, and some will be too shy to participate fully. That’s why it’s necessary to work on group dynamics and strive for balance.
We recommend trying these strategies to ensure everyone in the group is equal:
🎁 Bonus Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Study Group
We’ve prepared some extra recommendations as a bonus! We’ve asked students from effective study groups about lesser-known things that help them make each session better than the last. So, here are the best exclusive tips for maxing out the success of your study group:
- Create a master document. We advise you to use GoogleDrive, OneDrive, or any other app to store all your notes. This way all the materials will always be accessible, and your teammates will be able to revise everything that you’ve covered during your group meetings.
- Get some refreshments. Sipping a cold soda during studies can give you much needed energy. Be sure to place a couple of refreshments on the table in your group study room, if possible. Just avoid alcohol because this will make your mind sluggish!
- Celebrate your victories. You already know that rewarding yourself and your peers will offer you all a giant boost of motivation. But how about especially epic rewards for achieving important goals? For example, if all group members get an A for the next exam, you’ll bring a cake to the next group meeting and celebrate together.
- Challenge each other.This is what should you do instead of competing. Create quizzes, come up with potential exam questions, and discuss the most difficult topics together. Even if you don’t find the right answers, the interaction alone will help you get amazing insights into the subjects.
- Be honest about your goals. It’s important to be realistic. If you keep overestimating your goals, you’ll eventually realize that, in truth, you’ve achieved nothing. Instead, acknowledge your real progress, even if it’s small, and be sure to note every drawback.
Possible Pitfalls to Avoid
Some study groups fail at the very beginning. We wanted to know why, so we asked some study group members about their unfortunate experiences and what pitfalls they’ve encountered. This is what they recommend avoiding at all costs:
- Don’t let your study group become a social group. You gather to study, which is the main goal of your group. You are not here to socialize. That’s why it’s crucial to avoid your relations from getting too personal. Otherwise, you’ll be discussing everything but your studies during your meetings.
- Don’t allow anyone to dominate. Everyone’s progress must be similar to ensure that all of you are equally important to the group. If anyone is trying to dominate the group, be sure to voice your concerns.
- Don’t encourage complaining. There is a certain category of people that tend to whine and complain about everything. A good critique is valuable, but don’t let it turn into constant arguing.
- Don’t let hitchhikers and couch potatoes into your group. Hitchhikers and couch potatoes use others to study for them. Hitchhikers may be manipulative and are typically just looking out for themselves, and couch potatoes are lazy. Don’t allow such individuals into your study group!
- Don’t get behind or too ahead of the others. Make sure your group is moving at an even pace together. Avoid letting anyone lagging far behind or finishing everything before others have even started. You gather as a group, and you must study as one!
- Don’t be late, and avoid making excuses. To avoid conflicts, make sure you always arrive on time. If you’re unable to come, then be honest about the reasons why you’re late and don’t make it into a regular habit.
We’ve shared with you all there is to know about study groups. This way of studying is totally worth trying! By following our simple tips and recommendations, you’ll be able to get the most out of this process. Good luck!
