There are many good reasons for studying together with fellow students - but there are also certain hurdles
Author: Johanna Steuber
After the exams is before the exams and a look at the amount of material covered in a semester always triggers a certain feeling of unease. Especially those of us who, like me, are not the most diligent students during the semester will be familiar with this sinking feeling in the stomach when you come across various completely unknown terms while leafing through the seminar documents after the end of the course.
There are various ways to deal with this discomfort. For some, the feeling spurs them on to top performance in their exam preparations, while others are so unsettled that they withdraw from the exam for the time being. Another strategy, but above all a much more sensible one, is to form a study group with other unsettled students. What does this actually mean and is it a successful concept?
A look at the internet reveals different views on the subject. Under the heading "Study groups: helpful or a waste of time?", you can find various arguments listed on the medical blog kenhub.com.
In line with the subject, it is explained here that learning processes that are primarily about memorization are often more difficult in a group because each person has their own memory techniques, for example when it comes to the order in which subcategories of a generic term are listed. When reciting memorized facts, you are usually better off alone than trying to do this together in a learning group.
However, many subjects are also about questions of understanding and learning groups are a very useful institution here. It is much easier to get rid of unanswered questions there than, for example, in a lecture or even in a consultation with the teacher. Discussing and sharing what you have learned together often leads to a satisfactory and comprehensive answer in the end. In addition, explaining knowledge is one of the best learning methods for consolidating knowledge. I can only explain to others what I have really understood. And what I have explained once usually sticks in my memory.
Of course, there are also some human aspects that can make the learning group project a (failure) experience.
According to the web portal UNICUM, study groups should not be larger than four people. It is important to team up with people with whom you also harmonize on a personal level. Otherwise, this can quickly lead to the classic problems of learning groups, such as
The positive energy in the learning group leads to other beneficial effects in addition to learning success.
The agreed meeting with the study group can increase motivation and enjoyment enormously when preparing a topic, because it not only gives you a specific date to deal with the unpleasant material, but also because you are not only preparing your work for yourself, but also for others.
I have also had various experiences with study groups, especially this semester in preparation for the law invigilated (written) examinations. And although our group meetings are used to a not inconsiderable extent for cooking and drinking wine together, they have shown me another advantage of study groups: They make you feel like you're not alone in the task. You can share your concerns with others and you don't lose sight of the fact that passing your exams in the best possible way is not always the only important thing in your studies, nor is it what you remember later on - it's student life.
So yes: the exam phase is certainly not a highlight, but it is also an experience. And no one will ask you later whether you passed with a 2.0 or 2.3 in the end anyway ;)
