Supercharge Learning By Studying in Groups
The research is clear: many students learn better in groups. Students who learn in small groups generally demonstrate greater academic achievement, express more favorable attitudes toward learning, and persist through challenging courses or programs to a greater extent than their more traditionally taught counterparts. Why is this such a surprise? According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, nearly 70 percent of us are considered Extraverted, which means we are energized by interaction with others. Yet, learning is typically structured as a quiet, individual activity. That paradigm serves some students, but so many others need a social component to learn best. Cooperative learning, in which students work with peers in small learning groups to master academic material, consistently produces increased student achievement. According to researcher Robert Slavin, study groups are most effective when students are evaluated both on group goals and individual accountability. Group goals serve to motivate students to help each…
Creating Superior Study Groups
While you may have heard that he who travels fastest travels alone, sometimes speed is not the priority. In academics, students strive towards a level of total comprehension that leads to outstanding grades, test scores, and project results. If working on your own doesn’t deliver the success you are looking for, realize you don’t need to go it alone. Effective study groups supercharge learning in a wealth of ways, channeling shared knowledge and motivation to individual achievement. Study groups provide a social component that attracts extroverts while demanding the accountability procrastinators need to get work done on time. In many ways, the right study group is the solution for many academic woes… assuming you can find one. If your school or teacher cannot connect you to the kind of study group, you need not worry. Creating a superior study group is easier than you think, especially if you follow some…