PRO:
By Hanna McGuire
Executive Arts Editor
Many teachers find that simple discussion in the classroom is not enough to fully educate students. Teachers use study groups to ensure that students are constantly reviewing and learning, both at home and in the classroom. Working in groups is an effective learning tool for students because it enables collaboration between peers.
In most interactive classes, study groups are used by teachers to enhance students’ knowledge through their classmates. Although some may argue against study groups, it is undeniable that studying with peers allows for expanded learning and further comprehension.
Study groups are beneficial because they allow for ambiguities in students’ knowledge of a topic to be filled in. This not only helps one member gain knowledge, but it also lets the other students review the material in an effective manner.
In addition, some study groups which are structured so that students of different academic abilities work together are beneficial to all students. Students who know the material well are able to review by teaching and helping students who are not as competent in the material.
Furthermore, according to English Professor Kenneth C. Petress of the University of Maine, study groups improve participants’ social skills, teamwork abilities, task preparation and time management. When working in a group, students are not only responsible for themselves, but also for the peers relying on them.
Students’ aptitude for teamwork and planning also improves dependence on others to be prepared. Similarly, according to Petress, a study group can improve one’s assertiveness in many other social situations.
A number of teachers at Mira Costa have encouraged or required study groups in their classes, including history teacher Bill Fauver. According to Fauver, study groups are imperative in a history class because history demands discussion and the usage of information in an active way.
However, Fauver does not believe that study groups are necessary in every class. Students can definitely benefit from studying in groups for the majority of their classes to simply clarify areas of misunderstanding. However, students taking subjects that require analyzing data, like history or science, might value a study group more than those in an English class.
It is a common argument that study groups enable distractions instead of productive studying. However, studying alone can be just as distracting because a student may get bored easily and not have the focus required to study for a long period of time. In a focused and suitable group, peers will encourage each other to stay on track and will want to learn the material at a more in-depth level. Along with creating a valuable study environment, groups make studying enjoyable. Studying can become a tiresome activity despite its necessity, and working with peers allows for an alternative way to study.
Overall, study groups are beneficial to students because of their interaction with peers that lead to collaborative thinking, self-improvement and enhancement of knowledge. Through study groups, students gain a study experience incomparable to working alone, proving that two heads are really better than one.
CON:
By Michelle McKenna
Staff Writer
Study groups have become common in classrooms at both Mira Costa and around the nation. They are supposed to be a tool which helps students get the most out of studying by bringing together a group of people to take advantage of their collective knowledge and academic strengths.
Study groups may seem like an efficient way to study, but they are ineffective because of the consequences that they bring.
All students learn differently. According to Terry Farwell of Family Education, the three main types of learning are auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Most teachers are able to incorporate these three different learning styles into a singular lesson plan. Yet, because of a lack of focus and adult direction, these results are rarely achieved in study groups.
Aside from different learning styles, working in groups can be especially difficult if issues between group members arise, which is more likely to ensue because students cannot always choose with whom they work. According to a study at Deakin University, students usually have difficulties in acknowledging and resolving conflicts with others, making group work more difficult.
According to research conducted by Milgram, study groups can be detrimental to a student’s learning due to the negative group dynamics. These occur because of pressure kids feel from other students in the group.
The research states that a group leader usually emerges and pressures other students into certain study behaviors and tactics that they would never normally use. This kind of domineering study style is only effective for the group leader.
The dynamics of a group depend on the members relationships with each other. According to Milgram, if a group is task-oriented, it will have fewer problems than a group that is socially oriented. Students, however, when given the choice are much more likely to chose to work with their friends rather than working with kids they would be successful with.
When students work with their peers, especially their friends, they are much more likely to go off-topic and become distracted. Without question, working with friends is less efficient because of the time lost due to distractions.
According to Milgram, an unfair workload may be placed on some of the students, because of the dynamics of the group. An uneven work division does not belong in a healthy, positive learning environment. Students must also arrange themselves into roles specific to what they are studying. However, in an unstructured group this is less likely to function well, if it is organized to happen at all.
If working alone is not an option, study groups can be effective if students are allowed to be in groups with people who share a similar learning style, with occasional teacher regulation of the learning environment. This way, students will be able to utilize their learning capacity and get the most out of limited studying time.
Unless study groups are organized and well-structured, it is likely that they can prove to be ineffective and even detrimental to what should and could be a positive learning environment.
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