How to Organize an Effective College Study Group
Counseling and Psychological Services University Center, Suite 109
[email protected] www.utpa.edu/counseling
Why a Study Group?
Great way to prepare for exams.
Students can teach each other different materials.
Groups can reduce study time.
Sharing talent.
Note taking reinforcement
Support system
Socializing
Cover more ground
Tuckman’s Model of Group Development
How to Work Effectively in Groups Step 1 Get to know each other. Step 2 Assign roles if the project requires working together in a group for an extended period of time to reach a specific goal. Step 3 Exchange contact information to enable group members to communicate effectively outside of scheduled meetings if the project is long term.
How to Work Effectively in Groups
Step 4
Identify the group's goal. Discuss and document the group's goal to make sure you all agree on the primary goal of the group's work. Step 5
Divide tasks into steps and assign each member a specific task to attack long term projects. Step 6
Listen to each other and encourage each other.
How to Work Effectively in Groups
Step 7 Deal immediately with conflict if it arises. Although difficult to deal with, conflict or discord in a group can undermine the group's objectives.
Problem Solving Model 1. Define the Problem 2. Gather Information and Data About the Problem 3. Analyze the Problem
4. Develop Solutions
6. Monitor and Measure the Results
5. Implement the Solutions
7. Adjust as Necessary
Guidelines for Getting a Group Together
How many? Create a group of four to six people.
Who? Pick classmates who seem to share your interest in doing well in class. Look for people who stay alert in class, take notes, asks questions and respond to the instructor’s questions.
Guidelines … Continued
Where? Hold study group sessions in a place that is free of distractions and that has room to spread out books and notes.
How long? Study groups should meet for no more than 2-3 hours at a time.
Guidelines … Continued
When? If possible, try to meet on the same day and time each week.
State objectives and goals Knowing what you want to achieve at each session helps the group stay focused and manage time. A designated session leader should state what goals are.
Guidelines …. Continued
Be prepared. Before session, be sure to finish your assigned reading, review notes and list topics you want to go over. Bring possible test questions.
Take turns teaching When you instruct the group, you not only help the other group members, but also reinforce your own knowledge.
Guidelines … Continued
Stay on topic. For each session, assign one member to be the taskmaster. This person’s job is to steer the group members back to the topic if they begin to drift.
Take breaks. Schedule 5 minute breaks after every ½ hr. or so of work.
End of meeting End each meeting with assignments for each group member
Review of Steps for Effective Study Groups
Establish logistics in advance. Date, time, place where meeting will be held.
Ask each person to create a mock test question Bring to meeting and explain corresponding answer.
Assign a topic to each students before meeting to become “experts”on. Create a document that highlights the most important information. Bring copies for all group members
Complete review guides before group meets Bring to group and share your answers.
Bring questions to the study group meeting. The group can work together to answer the questions.
Avoid Groupthink Groupthink: Someone in the group comes up with an idea and everyone accepts the idea without considering better alternatives.
Prepare list of questions for the professor. Avoid dead weights. Avoid group members who are too dominant. Don’t be afraid to disagree. Always come to group prepared.
Study Break Tips for Exam Week 1.
Take a brisk walk or jog.
2.
Watch mindless television
3.
Read a novel
4. Watch a funny movie 5.
Have a study snack.
*Team Building Activity* Plane Crash Scenario Instructions will be provided by presenter.
Group Discussion
How did your group reach their decision?
What roles did group members adopt?
Did they listen to each other?
What have you learned about the functions of a group? Each other?
What would you do differently next time?
Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services University Center, Suite 109 956-381-2574
[email protected] www.utpa.edu/counseling
