Online Students Gain Advantage From Study Groups!

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:32:26 EST

The advantages of a distance learning education are starting to become exceedingly well known. This type of schooling is built on such concepts of flexible schedules, lesser costs and studying from anyplace one can get online.

The entire concept is starting to truly resonate with the public. Yet one of the drawbacks has been the matter of setting up study groups. Many courses require students form them as a way to better understand what's being taught.

There are other real benefits to a study group. One student's weakness could be another's strength, with both working to strengthen the other. These exchanges end up being advantageous to all in the group. Communicating within the team helps overcome individual weak points, and all walk out more well rounded.

With distance education, these classes can have students attending from many different locations. You might have someone from San Francisco, another from New York City and still another from somewhere in the Middle East. Each will have their own schedules, both work and home, and some may only be available when others are sleeping.

Fortunately, distance colleges are aware of this, and have come up with their own answer. The solution is to set up online study groups. Many have set up areas within their systems where students taking particular classes can set up these groups. Google has its own service in the form of Google Groups, which has study areas if the college doesn't facilitate this first. There are some helpful hints for a group success if one plans to participate in one of these.

(1) Each person in the group is a stranger to the other. Strangers don't work as well together as those who have been introduced and who know a bit about the other. This doesn't mean height, weight, or hair color, but a bit of who the person is. This, of course, would include their scheduling availability. When can they get online to participate in the group? Can compromises be made so all can attend? If you find that all of you in that particular group happen to live locally, see if actual meetings can take place every so often.

(2) Politeness matters. Tone of voice or a wink to convey that what was said was a joke doesn't translate to text on the page. Respect toward your group mates will make it easier to study together. There will come a time or two when someone just won't get something that seems very easy to you. Answer their question in a way you would want someone to answer you when your own "I don't get it" moment arrives. This will serve you well when the same thing happens in your new career during a teleconference with a big client.

(3) Questions are good. Questions open up new ways of thinking, clarify information, and can lead to some of the most thought-provoking discussions. Don't let the group dynamics falter by not asking questions. If you're the one who knows the answer, speak up! The group will thrive on discussion and asking questions is one way to really get things going.

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Online Students Gain Advantage From Study Groups!