First of all let's take a look at what a study group is. It's where you meet on a regular basis with other students who are studying the same subject as you are. Within the study group you can discuss what you understand of the subject, what you don't understand with the hope that someone else there can explain it to you in a way that you do understand, and also to talk about any class assignments or presentations that may be required as part of the subject.
Study groups meet at a number of different places, and have a varied approach to the format of the group. Some study groups are very informal, perhaps meeting in one of the member's homes where a supply of snacks and drinks are provided by the student's parents.
Other groups are more formal and meet in more traditional places such as an empty classroom or school library space that's designated for group work. The formal study groups are usually run to some kind of agreed schedule with a list -- either written or voiced -- of items to be covered at each session, whereas informal groups tend to approach their meetings with a more flexible attitude of just chatting about whatever seems relevant at that time in what they're learning.
There are many advantages to being part of a study group. These include: Increasing your motivation to study as it's more fun within a group environment where there is no expectation to "perform".
There's a supportive environment that provides a place to admit that you don't understand something without feeling ashamed. You can ask questions of your study group members that you wouldn't be comfortable enough to ask in front of an entire class.
You get the win-win situation where not only do you get help, but you gain confidence in the subject by being able to answer the questions posed by other members of the group on areas of the subject they don't understand.
If you missed a class you'll be able to catch up using both the notes of the other students in your study group, plus the verbal input from the class that they can give you.
When you are involved in group work you won't feel that you are alone and looking for a group -- your study group is a ready made unit that already knows how to work together and recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of each member.
Revision time can become more focused with each member of the group being responsible for a particular area. It can also be less stressful as there won't be such a feeling of isolation as the group will meet to discuss their revision and to have group discussion on the possible kind of questions to appear on any test along with the possible answers.
A study group needs to be formed with certain agreements in place. These should be discussed and agreed at the first meeting. You should have a schedule of meetings, a place to meeting and what kind of group (formal or informal) you want to be. If all members of the group accept the terms of belonging to the group, you're all set to go. If there's some discord then you need to either negotiate on some points, or have 2 study groups form on different formats so that each student is comfortable with the group they belong to.
If there isn't a study group for a subject that you believe would benefit from one (or more specifically, you would benefit from) investigate the possibility of setting one up and find out what level of interest there would be from the rest of the class. You aren't looking for a mass sign-up; even 4-6 active members make it a viable group that all should benefit all.
How To Start Study
Once you decide on the institution you are going to attend, you need to decide whether you will attend online courses, traditional classrooms, or a combination of both.
While those who attend traditional classrooms will need many of these supplies as well, this article will focus mostly on what the student who takes online courses needs.
You're going to need money for all of the following in order to be able to take online courses. Some of these you may already have, but for the rest that you don't have, you'll need to invest in them.
1. The online course and the materials you will need in them.
2. A computer. A laptop may be advantageous for you if you need to access your courses on the go, such as at work or in a study group.
Specification-wise, your computer should have
- a Pentium processor that runs at 300 MHz or higher; - at least 128 MB of RAM; the more you have, the more resource-intensive applications you can run at one time; - an Operating System of Windows 95 or higher or Macintosh 8.1 or higher; - a disk drive ( CD or DVD that can burn as well) to download course materials and save information; - a modem to connect to the Internet; - some kind of word processing software on your computer to complete assignments - MS Word is the most popular, though there is also WordPerfect and AppleWorks; - a sound card and speakers; you won't be able to hear your professor's lectures without them.
3. An Internet connection. Preferably, you should really consider high-speed Internet connections like cable or DSL because the video feeds professors will use to show their lectures online will come across better with fewer interruptions than if you are on dial-up. Having a smoother video feed will likely aid you in learning the material better, rather than only having the video play for 5 seconds or so, then pausing for 5 seconds or so, then resuming, etc.
In addition, cable and DSL will allow you to upload and download your work assignments that much quicker; a 1 MB assignment would take at least 20-30 seconds to download via dial-up, whereas it would only take about 2-3 seconds at most to download via cable or DSL. The time saved can allow you to get to work quicker.
4. Investing in a high-quality printer. While you may not need a printer to print out your assignments and turn them in like you would in a traditional classroom setting, you likely will want to take some of the course material with you to read and review when you are on the go, rather than taking your laptop and powering it on all the time.
An inkjet printer or laser printer would be your best bets; a laser printer especially if you are just printing out text, while an inkjet printer might be a better choice if your course materials include a lot of graphics, as inkjet printers normally handle graphics better than laser printers.
5. A good quality, comfortable chair that supports your back; after all, you are going to be spending considerable amounts of time in this chair logging into your online courses, reading the material, downloading your assignments, preparing your assignments and uploading them, conversing with your online classmates, etc. If you are uncomfortable in your chair, it's likely your performance will suffer, so invest in a comfortable high-quality chair that fits your height, allows your feet to rest squarely on the floor, and allows you to perform at your best.
6. The desk you have your computer on; make sure there is enough room for you to have all of your necessary supplies, such as paper, pencil, mouse, printer (unless you have it on the floor,) etc. It's better to have enough room for all of those necessities rather than trying to shift everything around when you need a specific item, as this will save on time and frustration.
After acquiring everything you need to succeed in your online courses, you then need to put forth the time and effort to succeed at those courses. Only your determination and persistence will allow you to do that.
It may take some getting used to participating in an online course because of the lack of verbal communication, plus you need to stay focused and determined to complete the course, even when your career or family life provides outside distractions.
Some tips to stay motivated include
- setting goals and charting your progress so you don't lose your motivation and fall behind in your class.
- talking about what you are learning with a family member or friend, as this will aid your learning of the material.
- "talking" about the material with your online classmates via chat rooms, message boards, email, and instant messaging. If you can meet with any of them in a study group, that would also be beneficial.
- keeping in contact with your professor and your online classmates to help you stay positive in times when you have doubts or experience frustration over the online course.
- rewarding yourself from time to time with activities with loved ones and just taking time out for yourself. This will help to recharge you and and your motivation to complete the online course.
Successfully completing your online courses involves having the necessary supplies and motivation, so make sure you are prepared before enrolling in your online courses.
Both Jane Saeman & Bryan Wong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jane Saeman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Movie Reviews, Music and Cooking Tips. Jane Saeman runs an In-Home Tutoring service called Aim High Tutors. Find out about how to help your student at. Jane Saeman's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Bryan Wong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Supplements and Wedding Planning. Bryan Wong is the owner of www.OneStopEducationSearch.com, a website that provides you a unique one-stop-search-service and high quality articles.. Bryan Wong's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
