Group Discussion

Here what I think how a study group will benefit me as a distance learner.(Written when i was one)

Emotional and academic support

I am working person with a lot of responsibilities. Most of the people in Wawasan Open University are working too. We juggle our priorities. Work, family and other social events will get in the way of our studies. We have an opportunity with a study group to discuss and also find ways to handle them.

For example a student may have problems getting into the material after a long break from school. We can advise this student develop a reading habit by reading books,magazine and newspaper everyday in order for him or her to get into the habit of reading course material everyday. In our monthly tutorials it is vital for us to take down important notes given by the tutor. Note taking methods can be also shared like carrying a small notebook in case an answer or an idea for a TMA comes flashing.

We can also learn to teach each other subjects that we don’t understand. For example a student may not understand the difference between the ‘efficiency of a manager’ and or the ‘the effectiveness of a manager’. Having a few students may give that person a few different answers but the point is that he/she is able to discuss with the group and conclude the answer. We don’t just memorize facts but we need apply effectively in real life as well. Some students may not know how to use the WawasanLearn or LMS properly. We as a group can show them how to use it for it’s very important how to download files, post to forums and upload their TMA’s. By explaining to other students, we can better grasp the subject matter that we are learning. This is because when we explain we need to think about subject throughly. By thinking deeply about it, you may understand better.

A study group may also have senior students who have been with WOU for a few semesters. Some of them may have picked an basic or an advanced subject to study. These senior student experiences in doing assignments can be vital to the study group as they can share tips and tricks on how to tackle TMA’s and open distance learning.

In a group like this we can share our problems. Sharing our problems with someone is good to lighten our burden and relieve our stress. For an example, you may have guilty feelings that you are not spending time with your family as much as they need you to because of your studies. Talking about it with the group eases your burden. It may or may not solve our problems but it is good for our mental and emotional well being. It also good for the group that everybody cares for each other. This can also prevent loss of interest in study. Another student might be in the same boat as you and he or she can share how they are tackling it. Maybe some of us are good life coaches in the making.

Life is unpredictable. We may miss some tutorials for that reason. Our study group members can keep us up to date on the tutorials and latest academic developments. We can do this when we meet up or can post notes and discuss them online in the forums. Discussing them according to the tutorials is best way.

Share ideas

It is said that ‘two heads are better than one’. The study group will be of different personalities and backgrounds. So, one subject matter can give a student many ideas how to understand or discuss it. The ideas can be listed out and the most reasonable or logical ideas can be used. These ideas then can be discussed,debated and hashed together. It can be also shared in the forums, so that students from other regional offices can benefit. By doing this a active environment can be created for students and lecturers.

This skill that we pick-up in these study groups is important for our careers. For an example, many companies have brainstorming sessions to develop ideas and products. Sales and marketing department, product design department and even universities have study groups on how something should be tackled. The skills that we picked from study groups, debating, discussing and hashing together ideas can be used in a real world application. It will make us better thinkers, analyzers and problem solvers.

Become more organized

Being in a study group requires commitment. That means I need to organize my time so that I can meet up on schedule and get things done. I will need all my study materials, notes and reference with me when I meet up with my group. If I’m studying alone, i might procrastinate, but if i’m in a study group, my mates are relying on me to do my part, so that they can get things done too. For an example, the study group may have assign one person to study one topic and later explain it to the group. So if I don’t read that topic, I am letting my study group down. I will need organize my time, so that I have time to read the topic.

In a study group, you may take turns to become discussion leaders or coordinators. This means you can be in charge of getting everyone together in a weekend to study. You need to organize when to meet,where to meet,what to discuss,how long should it be and how many are coming. You can use e-mail, sms or call each other to remind ourselves of tasks. I believe that this will make me better committed to the group and more responsible. This also can give us basic leadership and coordination skills that are important for our future undertakings. Many learn this through clubs and organizations but I know that you can learn this through group learning method as well.

Conclusion

In a study group I will learn how to do all that i’ve mentioned, take notes, do research, manage my time between study,work and family. I will create new friendships and bond with my fellow course mates. The relationship that I have with them will last probably through the whole 4-5 years of study in university.

All the points I have given shows how a study group will benefit me. To me all these points lead to one word, motivation. Emotional/academic support can get me through tutorials, tutor marked assignments and of course the whole semester. Sharing of ideas can make me a better thinker, do better analysis and solve problems. Becoming more organized will give me coordination,leadership and negotiation skills that are vital to become a good manager. The study group or group learning method will give me the best motivation, skills and confidence to finish my degree and enjoy my life as university student.

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