Students ‘How to’ Study Group Guide

Students ‘How – To’ Guide to Forming Study Group 

Forming a Study Group 

When many students are working to succeed in a particular course, it helps to work together and collaborate.  This collaboration can be accomplished by establishing a study group. If formed effectively, study groups can prove to be a very beneficial tool! Below are four steps to form your study group. 

  1. Determine what the goal of the group will be. Typically, study groups help students prepare for course assessments or major projects. 
  1. Check with your professor to see if there are certain expectations for study groups. 
  1. Determine how you will work together and what each person should contribute to the group. 
  1. Decide on the logistics of meeting as a group. If you need to meet virtually, consider scheduling a meeting via Zoom (or some other platform) at a certain time each week. Scheduling regular meetings ahead of time will help your group remain consistent and motivated. 

Meeting with Your Study Group 

  1. Determine which course content you will review together and recognize that each group member might have different areas of difficulty. Review the important topics and discuss which ones you have questions about. 
  1. Outline a plan for your meeting by identifying what the intended outcome of the meeting is. This way, you will stay on track and will all be working toward one goal. 
  1. Use different methods of studying to help reinforce what you review: 
  1. Quiz each other on course content 
  1. Write out practice questions for one another 
  1. Create flashcards to help you memorize terms and concepts 
  1. Maintain respect amongst the group members 
  1. Encourage one another, especially when you  
  1. Let others speak about which content they are struggling with  
  1. Create a safe space where group members aren’t afraid to explain what they need help with. 

Resources for Convening Remote Study Groups 

There are a variety of online tools and other apps that can help connect your study group remotely.  Some are offered directly through Rutgers-Camden IT, others are available online for your phone or computer: 

Resources through RCIT 

  • Microsoft Teams – A collaboration tool that is part of the Office 365 suite of services. Teams enables remote, global and dispersed teams to work together and collaborate through a common workspace, team chat, one-on-one chat, document collaboration and more. Teams is integrated with a variety of other Office 365 services, including OneDrive, OneNote, Planner, Exchange, and SharePoint. 
  • Zoom – Web conferencing tool with combination of video, voice, content sharing, and chat functions for online meetings. 
  • ScarletApps (Google) – The ScarletApps suite includes the core Google applications: Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Sites. 

Other recommended resources 

  • GroupMe – the free and simple way to stay in touch with friends and family, quickly and easily. GroupMe works on Windows, iOS, Android, and the web, so you can stay in touch on the go. Even your friends without smartphones can join – add anyone from your phone book and they can jump right in and chat with the group. 
  • Slack – a “freemium” collaboration platform that provides group chat, direct messaging, audio and video calls, and file sharing.  Integrates with several products offered by Microsoft and Google. 
  • Trello – another “freemium” platform, Trello’s boards, lists, and cards enable teams to organize and prioritize projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way. 

Finally, if you find you still have questions after working with your study group, consider visiting your professor during office hours for additional support.  The Learning Center may also be able to connect you with a tutor.