A study group is a small group of students who meet together regularly once a week with the aid of a trained leader to discuss concepts, confusions, and insights into course material. Each group is unique, contains students with different backgrounds and abilities, and determines its own pace and the material that will be covered. This allows each group to address the needs of the individuals in the group.
Students also have indicated that study groups benefit them in a variety of ways. They include:
Before coming to the study group, students review class notes and the assigned reading, attempt the current problem set, and jot down points that are unclear or questions they would like to discuss. In the study group, the leader helps the students to get organized and to decide which questions are most basic or important and encourages the students to work together and to answer their own questions. The main role of the study group is to help students organize their thoughts, test their understanding by asking and answering questions, learn how to approach the material, and understand the basic concepts involved.
Study group leaders are chosen on the basis of their grades in past courses, recommendations from professors, willingness to help other students, and ability to communicate the material well. Many of them have tutored individual students in the subject before or have other tutoring experience.
Study groups usually begin the third week of the term and meet once a week during the rest of the term. Extra review sessions are also scheduled to allow for exam preparation.
How to Join a Study GroupTo sign up for a study group, stop by the Academic Skills Center and complete a study group application. The cost for joining a study group is $10 for students who receive financial aid from Dartmouth College (i.e., NOT Pell grants or Stafford loans); $30 for non-financial aid students.
