SETTING UP A
GROUP
PRESENTED BY THE ELMHURST COLLEGE LEARNING CENTER
STEP ONE
When you form a group, be certain that all members are enrolled in the same class with the same professor. If your members are in different sections, you may find that you are working on different assignments or that you are at different stages of an assignment.
STEP TWO
Your group should number no more than four students. Remember that you will need to find mutually agreed upon times for meeting as a group. It is difficult enough to get three or four people to agree on a day and time. Can you imagine a group of ten????
You also want to encourage participation in the group. The group will not function well if some members never get to speak with either comments or questions. It is easy for some members to get lost in a big group. Associate big with the salary you may earn as a college graduate, not the size of your study group.
STEP THREE
Decide how often you will need to meet. The frequency of your meetings will best be determined by your purpose for meeting. If the group is preparing for major tests, the group may choose to meet once before each test. On the other hand, you may decide that ongoing review with the group works better. If you are writing a major paper, you may want to meet several times at each stage of the writing to obtain feedback. For a short paper or summary paper, you may meet only once.
STEP FOUR
Be aware of Elmhurst College policies regarding academic honesty and integrity. Be aware of your individual professor's policies regarding group work or collaborative efforts. If you violate these policies, your grade and academic standing may be in jeopardy. Don't take unnecessary chances; ask your professor if you are unsure.
ENJOY YOUR GROUP. STUDY GROUPS CAN BECOME REAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.
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