Sometimes, it is just not fun to have to study, especially when you see other people out and about, doing fun things. But when you study with a friend, you know that you are not suffering alone, and that makes it somewhat more tolerable. Also, you have someone to help explain concepts or problems you don’t understand, and vice versa.
My main problem when I try to study with my friends is that we end up talking more about Desperate Housewives than the class we are supposed to be studying. I have a feeling I’m not alone in this habit.
So is there any way you can get the benefits of studying with a friend without getting sidetracked? I attended a seminar about the benefits of group learning and how to make it the most efficient use of your study time.
Here are some study tips that can help you and your study partner out.
1. Set an agenda. If you know what you have to study during your study session, you can make a list and check off each thing as you learn it. Put something rewarding at the end of your list, like a trip to the ice-cream shop, to motivate both you and your partner to stay on task.
2. Take turns playing teacher. You should explain one section, then let your partner explain the next. This will allow you to interact with each other and will also help you learn the material more thoroughly. But make sure you stick to your agenda and don’t sink into a spiraling conversation of doom in which you discuss the latest plot twists on TV or how cheesy your professor is because he wears a bow-tie to every class.
3. Swap notes. Assuming you can read your partner’s handwriting, exchanging notes can be a great idea. Your friend might have taken wonderful notes about something you just didn’t understand, or you might read something that jogs your memory. Also this gives both of you a chance to catch any mistakes in your notes so you won’t keep learning the wrong information.
4. Brainstorm together. You could try to think of possible questions that will be on the next exam or mull over thesis subjects for your term papers. Two minds are better than one, right? You’ll have twice as many ideas flying around than if you did this yourself, and it’s likely that you’ll both think of something the other person does not.
The main problem with studying with a friend or in a group is getting off-subject. But if you can exercise some will-power and stay on track, you’ll definitely receive some benefits you might never have received by studying on your own.
posted on January 31st, 2010
by Kelsey, Student Blogger
Tags: group learning, study, study skills, Study Tips
Posted in Campus Life | 10 Comments »
November 28th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
[...] spend money on. However, this is really just a good way to entertain yourself. It can also help you enjoy a study break for a short amount of time without investing too much effort into figuring these things [...]
August 16th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
[...] extra credit in a class in order to get the grade you want, you might want to consider forming a study group or hiring a tutor to help you do better in the subject. Your problems are not necessarily the [...]
August 9th, 2011 at 11:45 am
[...] First, let’s address the things you have to do: school, work, and sleep. Like I said above, this makes up 91 one of my weekly 168 hours, so I have 77 hours left in my week for personal activities. In order to determine your personal activities, make a list of all the things you have to do each week. This list could include activities such as eating, cleaning, and studying. [...]
August 1st, 2011 at 10:17 am
[...] but, ultimately, professors judge success in class by tests. Think seriously about joining a study group, and make your own study guide by taking detailed notes in [...]
July 21st, 2011 at 12:33 pm
[...] of Business as a way for students to get help with their studies, even if they can’t find a study group that works for [...]
December 24th, 2010 at 1:01 am
[...] Study With a Partner to Succeed [...]
November 5th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
[...] Study with a Partner to Succeed [...]
September 29th, 2010 at 10:09 am
[...] Study with a Partner to Succeed [...]
July 10th, 2010 at 1:02 am
[...] all heard that awful statistic that for every hour you are in class you should be studying two hours. So, if you are taking 15 hours, you should be studying 30 hours outside of the [...]
July 1st, 2010 at 8:47 am
[...] the website. In addition to the Q&A board, Cramster also offers lecture notes, video lectures, study groups, and practice exams to help students prepare for exams or just learn more about the [...]