When it comes to school, studying is a major part of passing classes and getting good scores on assignments and quizzes. When people engage in studying they are often faced with the question, which is more beneficial, groups or studying solo? Group studying not only brings a sense of community for students but also allows for students to bounce ideas off of each other and get through any issues or questions one student may struggle with answering.
The definition of a study group according to the Academic Resource Center at Harvard University is a safe space where students can ask questions, practice participation and get to know their classmates in a smaller setting.
If students were to study by themselves there can be the issue of lack of motivation, carelessness, distractions and having no one to answer questions they may have.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a study performed on 500 Harvard undergraduates showed that students who performed in out-of-class study groups for science classes were more likely to take other science classes versus students who studied by themselves. They also added that out-of-group studies increase student achievement and promote positive attitudes.
The study continues to state that 59% of the students voluntarily created a study group with others in order to prepare for their specific science class.
Studying alone can be intimidating, and students can end up feeling nervous that the materials they are studying are incorrect, especially with practice examples. Students should be encouraged to study in groups because it solves a lot of the fears that they have expressed when it comes to studying. Studying in a group also benefits the students in having a clearer head space by having the support of others.
According to Faculty Focus, more than 78% students said that they had participated in a study group session during the semester. Seventy percent of the students that participated in the survey said that studying in a group increased their motivation.
Study groups should be something that is encouraged instead of falling back on the traditional idea of studying by yourself. The more that professors encourage students to contact peers and work together, the more of an opportunity it gives students to progress.
The Faculty Focus study showed that students studied with others because professors encouraged it, and 60% of the students who participated stated that it helped them understand their studies slightly more or a lot more than if they studied by themselves.
Students should never have to feel alone or struggle by themselves when it comes to studying, group study sessions benefit the student in multiple ways and we should encourage students to work together.