1. FACILITATE YOUR OWN STUDY GROUP HOW TO:

2. Pre-Group o Take Initiative  Meet with the professor about starting a group.  Professors may help guide your topic choice. o Be Decisive o Establish time & public meeting place; let others know details. o Think About It o If possible, could you make an announcement in class? Would the professor send a mass email to the students with study group information? Could you collect emails and then send a mass email? o How do YOU get the word out? o Create Objectives o Group must have purpose. o Use four topics/questions/concerns as a guideline. o Be Consistent o Don’t get discouraged if the group isn’t popular at first. o Keep meeting time & place consistent. o Announce the group in class every two weeks? Before tests? o Think QUALITY (of session) over QUANITITY (of attendees).

3. During Group Be in Charge  Be a leader early on in the group.  Lead enough to get things started, then… Be Calm  Work together towards group objectives.  Allow for tangents.  Remember: objectives are a GUIDE, not the RULE. What YOU Know  Draw on current knowledge.  Build on concepts that everyone grasps.  Use that information to better understand more difficult information. What you DON’T Know  What questions do group members have?  What don’t you know?  Is that info important? Ask?  What happens when group members conflict? Use this to move toward group consensus.  Ask professor to clarify those concepts which the group is struggling.

4. After Group/ End of Session What Now? o Review? Summarize? o What was covered? o Relate that to upcoming topics. o Plan another session? o Try to schedule around tests/quizzes. o Visit All-Campus Tutoring? o They may be able to help! o Visit with the professor? o Ask for clarification.

5. THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION IS THE PROPERTY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY’S ACADEMIC & CAREER ADVISEMENT CENTER. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT. WWW.NMU.EDU/ACAC “How To” Facilitate Your Own Study Group Special thanks to Michele Woodford for her design help with this presentation.