EssayReview ForumA few people from my class are starting a weekly study group. I like the idea, but every group session I joined at school turned into chatting and one person explaining everything.
What makes a study group useful rather than another meeting?
Is joining a study group actually worth it?
Small group, clear topic, fixed end time. Four people for one hour works better for me than ten people with no plan.
Everyone should attempt the questions first. Otherwise it becomes a free tutoring session for whoever did not prepare.
They are good for finding what you dont understand. I thought I knew a topic until I tried explaining it out loud and got stuck halfway through.
Not great for first learning the whole chapter though. I need quiet for that.
quietmajor wrote:
Not great for first learning the whole chapter though. I need quiet for that.
Exactly. I study alone first, then use the group to compare answers and explain difficult parts. We finish by agreeing on what each person still needs to review alone.
I’ll give it a try with a one-hour limit and a specific problem set. If nobody prepares after two sessions, I can stop without turning it into a weekly obligation.