Forming Your Own Study Group

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Forming Your Own Study Group

• Promote your success, join a study group!

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In the real world

• People work in groups/ teams
• Valuable educational process
• Learning how is
• important

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The process of group study

• Develop self-discipline
• Improve problem solving ability
• Work together to solve difficult questions
• Challenges
• Rewards

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Some study groups are better

• Why?
• Motivated students
• Group size
• Common goals
• Accountability

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Selecting group members

• Purposeful selection
• Open invitation

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Working in a group

• Purpose?
• Why meeting?
• Co-operatively or collaboratively?
• Where and when?
• Scheduling problems?

• Conflict?
• Wasting time?
• Not contributing?
• Domineering?

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Purpose?

• Review material
• Compare and update notes
• Divide readings and other tasks
• Prepare for exams

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Reviewing material

• Test questions
• Teach a topic
• Lecture notes
• Discuss difficulties

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Comparing and updating notes

• Compare
• Fill in
• Discuss

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Divide reading and tasks

• Written summary
• Teach it
• Pair off
• Interview

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Exam preparation

• Analysis
• Test questions
• Mind maps
• Chapter outlines

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Why are you meeting?

• Learn more together than alone?
• Co-operative environment?
• Increase chances?
• Help others?
• Expand learning style?
• Develop teamwork skills?

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How will you work?

• Co-operatively?
• Collaboratively?

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Where and when?

• Flexibility is the key!
• Scheduling problems?
• Clear, mutually agreeable guidelines
• Missed meetings
• Meeting alternatives

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Conflict?

• Ground rules
• Patience and communication
• Collective decisions
• Negotiation and accommodation
• Warning signs

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Wasting time?

• Roles
• Efficient meetings
• Arrive prepared and on time
• Keep to an agenda
• Break tasks down

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Not contributing?

• Why?
• Solution depends upon reason
• Disinterested
• Quiet
• Busy

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Domineering?

• Ground rules
• Take turns
• Limit time
• Designate

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Can be a frustrating process

• Size
• Agenda
• Homework
• Take stock
• Planning

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Strategies for group success

• Choose a leader
• Set goals
• Adjust to personalities
• Share the workload

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Strategies for group success

• Regular meeting times
• Create study materials
• Help each other
• Pool your resources

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Wise words

• Human beings, who are almost unique in having the
  ability to learn from the experience of others,
  are also remarkable for their apparent
  disinclination to do so.
• 
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