A new study confirms that students are more successful when they work within a group rather than studying on their own.
Manuel Cebrian, a computer scientist at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California San Diego, and colleagues analyzed 80,000 interactions between 290 students in a collaborative learning environment for college courses. High achievers were more likely to be the ones who formed strong connections with other students – exchanging information and encouraging each other along the way.
Per the Center for Academic Success at Lehigh University, study groups have the following benefits:
- Material is better understood and retained – students in study groups generally learn faster than students working alone
- Students can confirm with each other any confusing or complex subject material. They can also share new perspectives on information that might enhance learning.
- Fellow students can be a source of support and encouragement
- Increase in confidence in academic capability
- Opportunity to learn new study habits and skills from peers
- Prevents procrastination – less likely to wait until the night before a test to study
At a study group, to get the most out of each session, groups should:
- Establish goals and what you hope to accomplish by joining a study group
- Review lecture notes together; discuss anything you did not understand
- Discuss key concepts from lectures and from the textbook
- Work on assignments
- Study for tests or exams; Discuss what questions you expect to be on the test
- Review past exams if the professor has made them available
Ground rules should also be established for study groups, such as:
- Be on time and prepared
- Be respectful of others' ideas
- Bring class notes and textbooks to study sessions
- Have homework, study guides, sample test questions, etc. completed before session
- Have questions about material ready to discuss
- Do not meet sporadically—schedule consistent weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly sessions
Journal Reference: Nature Scientific Reports
Additional Resource: Lehigh University Center for Academic Success
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