Group study sessions can be extremely beneficial, acting as a powerful tool for progressing through our syllabus. However, like fire, they need to be handled with care.
Here are some reasons why group studies can have a negative impact:
1. Gossip and Distractions: Group studies can become a platform for gossip. In my experience, discussions often drifted from the main topic to unrelated subjects. Regardless of how focused everyone is, there will be times when you waste time. While breaks are healthy, they can become counterproductive if they are too long.
2. Differences in Learning Pace: Everyone learns at a different pace. In my group, some would start answering questions immediately because they already knew the material, while others needed several examples to understand, and some would give up quickly. This diversity can be challenging but can also be advantageous, which I'll discuss later.
3. Management Issues: Time can be wasted if someone in the group is late or absent. Repeating certain topics multiple times, especially when you’re already familiar with them, can become boring or frustrating. While repetition is necessary for revision, constantly going over entire topics can waste time and decrease your interest in studies.
Now, let's focus on the positives and how to optimize productivity in group studying. It took me a while to optimize my productivity, and I'm still learning. Here are the benefits and tips to address the negatives:
Benefits of Group Studies:
From the Paleolithic age, humans have lived in tribes, working as a team. Group studies can harness this inherent teamwork, helping you excel faster while building strong bonds and memories with your peers.
In a school setting, having a group with students from various schools can expose you to different methods, tips, and tricks from their teachers. In my group, which included students from NCS and KV Karanja, we shared how our teachers explained certain topics and exchanged notes. However, it's essential to verify answers from reliable sources, like teachers or the internet, to avoid incorrect information.
Addressing the Negatives:
1. Control Gossip and Distractions: Maintain control over your group. If you're at a friend's place, ask their parents to check on you occasionally. Setting alarms every 10 minutes can help keep you on track and monitor your progress, whether you're solving math problems or discussing theoretical subjects.
2. Respect Learning Paces: Respect your peers' learning paces. If you're behind, ask someone to explain the topic. If they refuse, seek help from others or use the internet. Compete with the top performers in your group to drive yourself to do better. If you're ahead, help those who are struggling. However, balance helping others with working on your own weaknesses to avoid falling behind.
3. Effective Management: Be strategic in managing your time. Help others when you can, but prioritize your progress. When topics are repeated, stay engaged by doing productive activities like solving math problems or writing down key formulas and timelines. This keeps you productive while staying in sync with the group.
Lastly, avoid group study sessions once your pre-boards are announced. Focus on completing your pending syllabus and practice answering sample papers with a 3-hour timer. Group studies can be a waste of time once the syllabus is covered. Instead, prioritize individual practice, tests, and sample papers. Seek help from teachers to check your papers, analyze them thoroughly, and work on your weak spots. By the time pre-boards 2 (or 3) come around, you should have no remaining topics to cover.
That's all I have to say for now. If you need any help, my contact information is on my homepage. Feel free to text me, and leave your suggestions or topic requests in the comments. Thank you for your time, hope my experiences and inferences from those experiences help you plan better.
Study well.
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