How to get people together:

• Advertise in class by putting an announcement on the bulletin board in your classroom. (i.e. "General Biology I students meet in the Library on Tuesday at 1 PM to form a study group")
• Pass a list around class to get names, phones, times
• Ask the instructor if you can make an announcement in class

 

Choosing people to work with:

• Look for dedicated students who ask questions in class, take notes, attend regularly
• Look for people who seem to share your academic goals
• Look for people with whom you are comfortable
• You might think about people who have a similar life situation with whom you can pool resources (i.e. ,single mom with child -- share baby sitter during study group, etc.)

You can get a group together and study, for example, at the Student Center, the library or even a restaurant

Make sure everyone agrees on the purpose of the study group

Set the ground rules:
1. Decide on meeting times, places, logistics
2. Decide on group goals
3. Agree to everyone coming prepared, being on time, and using the time as effectively as possible
4. You might designate one person as the group leader.
5. Agree to evaluate how you are doing as a group after two meetings.

Here are some suggested activities you can do with your group:

1. Have each person bring their class notes and a list of questions about class topics.
2. List topics in your study material and assign one person to teach (explain) a topic to everyone else.
3. Take turns demonstrating a particularly interesting or challenging problem or biological process to each other on a whiteboard / blackboard or large piece of paper.
4. Pick several problems which could be potential test questions and do them together.
5. Go back to the last lesson in class and do problems demonstrated in class or the study guide.
6. Practice making drawings which illustrate the parts of problems, or discuss figures in your textbook
7. Come to the study group with assignments completed and discuss problems and concepts illustrated in a study guide, textbook, or on-line questions .
8. Brainstorm questions to ask the instructor during the next class.
9. Study self-review questions (online, including old exam questions).
10. Agree to have each person bring in a list of 4 or 5 possible test questions for the study group to answer.
11. Create a practice test situation (timed).
12. Set your agenda for the next meeting and decide what each person needs to do to prepare for it.
13. Use the strengths of group members (areas of knowledge and skill) to help others in their weak areas.
14. Practice translating biology language into everyday English language.
15. Make flash cards of key terms.

 

What about group difficulties?

What problems might come up?	What are some solutions?
People don't come prepared	Have people clarify goals, needs, and purpose. Decide to continue or not.
People tend to socialize instead of focusing on biology.	Agree to spend the first 5 minutes talking about whatever, then agree to start studying together.
One person dominates with questions	Decide to take turns giving opinions or demonstrating or posing questions. Set a time limit or a question limit.
People feel dissatisfied with group	Decide to evaluate your process as a group; what works what doesn't & propose solutions.
Some people tend to be passive	Agree to have everyone bring in at least 2 questions they need answers to. Break up into groups of two and work together.
Nothing seems to get done	Agree to have one person facilitate by making a list of what people want to accomplish and one person to be a timekeeper. Agree on how much time to give each item and stick to it.
People don't show up	Decide if you want to continue. Find new participants who will make a commitment.

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Next page discusses available learning tools. To continue please click "NEXT".

1. attitude	2. successful students	3. dedication	4. course requirements	5. study time	6. budgeting time	7. remember time	8. improving your grades	9. previewing	10. focusing
11. reviewing	12. repetition	13. concentration	14. exams	15. vizualization	16. study technique	17. study groups	18. learning tools	19. textbook and lecture notes	20. help

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Page created 10.V.2000, last modified 28.V.2000. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson, 1999, and 2000. Please send comments and suggestions, including reporting grammar, spelling and /or factual errors, to Jan A. Nilsson desertbruchid@hotmail.com

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