Strategies for Group Study Sessions

Keys to Success in a Study Group

1. Have a plan. Stay focused.
   1. What content will you study? What strategies will you use? Who will facilitate and keep things on track? 
2. Discuss it.
   1. Identify broader themes, concepts, categories, and connect to the details with examples, key researchers, terminology, formulae, applications.
   2. Make charts, concept maps, or flash cards.
   3. Break down a process for a calculation or process.
3. Teach it.
   1. Explain, illustrate, define, demonstrate ideas, concepts, theories, skills.
   2. Each group member takes responsibility for a part
4. Practice it.
   1. Answer questions. Do equations. Write essay outlines. Compare responses.

Suggested activities for study groups

1. Preparing a study plan: This is a great study group activity. Help everyone in the group prepare an individual study plan; based on their courses and the exams that they will face.
2. Creating study charts: Help students find a study chart format for their discipline and start filling in the charts from their lecture and reading notes. 
3. Fall 2021 study plan
4. Study chart template

Academic Integrity Caution: Studying in groups is a great way to compare ideas with your peers. But, first, there is a caution. Academia is built on analytical dialogue, shared questions, and thoughtful debate, so discussing your work with your classmates can help you to better understand and apply course content. However, it is important to know when and how you can collaborate: unless it is expressly authorized, collaboration on any work for credit is cheating. All the work you submit for credit must reflect your own critical thinking about your topic; it must be your own individual and original work. You cannot buy, trade, steal, or borrow a paper that you submit as your own work. Furthermore, selling, trading, or lending your work (including posting information on sites like Chegg or Studoco) for another student to submit is also considered to be cheating. Each course and each assignment require you to complete independent and original, new work. Learn more about how to protect your academic integrity.