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| Study Groups |
 It begins when we are toddlers in the sandbox, or in the preschool classroom. A pile of sand is just starting to be molded into a beautiful castle, or a box of fresh, new blocks are waiting to be built into a great fort. When you are a four year old, you already recognize that your vision can only be part of the creative process, so you enlist the help of some of your schoolmates to pitch in to create something great, together.
As an adult in college, you find yourself seeking success, but unsure of how to do it alone. The decision is simple: rely on those old playground instincts, and gather your classmates together to help each other reach your goals, by forming a study group. Do not forget that study groups are not something to fear. Instead, study groups should be viewed as an opportunity for you to become a better student, by absorbing the best of what is around you. They get together to work on not only assigned projects, but also to prepare for exams and to, well, study.
Here are some of the advantages of study groups:
Note-taking reinforcements - when returning after you have been absent, or even absent-minded, your study group partners can share missed notes with you, to keep you up to speed.
Mixed bag of talent - each person in a group has something unique that they bring to the table (organization, discipline, memory, an understanding of material). With the help of your own personal strengths, group members can feed off each other to form an ideal study profile each person can benefit from.
Supportive system - Groups share common goals, in this case, excellent grades and learning experiences. Each person do some work that can directly affect the other group members, which makes the group more supportive of each member.
Five heads better than one - Large projects can be completed quickly and efficiently when the group splits up to complete tasks and sharing their results with all group members.
When you have an idea of what a study group is, it’s time to put one together. Try to avoid a random selection of students in creating your group. Consider some tips when you get ready build:
Pay attention in class - As your class discusses reading material and people answer questions, you can get a handle on who studies well, prepares for class, and grasps the material.
Piggyback on group assignments - It is very likely that at some point, your instructor will assign you and a group of classmates to complete at least one group project. Observe carefully how each group member performs his or her part of the task. Align yourself with the best group participants to invite to a study group later.
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