There are many benefits to studying in groups. Studying alone can be difficult, and many students struggle to keep themselves focused and motivated. Here are some reasons why you should join a study group instead.
- Find problem areas earlier
- Understand information earlier
- Understand information better
- Ask more questions
- Engage better in class
Is Studying In Groups More Effective?
Yes, studying in groups has been shown to improve students in many ways. Students who study in groups often:
- Have a better understanding of the course work
- Are more engaging during class
- Ask more questions
- Do better on their assignments
- Get better exam marks
This is because studying in groups gives an opportunity for students to discuss the course material, and see where their problem areas are as soon as possible.
This means they can ask questions to better understand the work earlier on in the term. This gives them more time to study information they understand before their exams.
Students who study in groups also often make friends with the other students in the study group. This gives more of a sense of community within the class, which allows the students to be more free with the questions they ask and how they express where and when they need help.
What Are Some Advantages And Disadvantages Of Study Groups?
There are many advantages to studying in groups. However, there are also some disadvantages.
Advantages
Some main advantages to studying in groups are:
- Find problem areas earlier
- Understand information earlier
- Understand information better
- Ask more questions
- Engage better in class
Disadvantages
Some main disadvantages of studying in groups are:
- It is much easier to get distracted
- It is much harder to focus once you are distracted
- It can be difficult to coordinate times and places to meet
- It can be difficult to make sure everyone has internet and data if your study group is online
- The learning style cannot be personal, and it cannot meet the needs of every individual in the group
Research shows the following Benefits of Study Groups:
Is It Better To Study In A Group Or On Your Own?
This is up to you to decide. If you work better alone, joining a group may make studying harder. If you work better in groups, studying alone can be difficult.
If you are studying alone, it may be worthwhile to ask friends and family if you can “teach” them your course material. This is the easiest way to find which areas you need help understanding.
If you are studying in groups, you will need to set up rules that all of you will need to hold each other to, and create a study plan for your course work.
This is to ensure that you can all keep focused and on track with your studies. This also helps if you have a class reading, so that you do not end up with one person who does the work and then has to explain it to everyone else because they did not put in the effort.
When studying alone or in groups, be sure to find the weak points in the study strategy and figure out a solution as early on as possible. This will help you to ensure that your study methods are as efficient as possible and are helping your studies rather than hindering them.
What About Study Materials?
If you or your study group need materials, you could look for resources such as past papers and memos.
With Together We Pass, you can get Study Notes which are designed by our course tutors to suit your course work, and Exam Packs with past papers for you to use as revision and practice. You can also find many tips for studying. MyUNISA has much to offer, but cannot always cater to every student’s needs.
These are available in our shop. Sign up with us today, creating an account is free. If you have any questions for us, you can contact us through email, Facebook or Twitter.
What Have We Learned?
- Studying in groups can be very beneficial
- Study groups can help students improve their marks
- Study groups can help students have a better understanding of their course work
- There are always advantages and disadvantages
- Choosing to study in groups or alone is your decision
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: June 29, 2022