The Study Dilemma: Group or solo? Let’s explore

A tough question that most students face before the exams is — group study and solo study? Remember, before you choose either of the above, analyse the situation and the nature of the study. Every approach is distinguished by the respective pros and cons, depending on the engagement of the nature of the subject by the learner in hand.

Let’s explore the pros and cons of either approach to help students adequately in deciding which method to use.

The freedom afforded by solo study makes it perfect for tasks that require deep concentration and understanding by the individual. For instance, the student can take as much time as possible to internalise and understand concepts in mathematics, a unit and subject that is always viewed as complex. The capacity to reread, reflect, and tackle problems without external intervention does come in handy in this regard.

Strength

·         Students can adjust their study environment and techniques to suit their likes and dislikes in a manner that may make focusing and the result more promising.

·         As a lot of time does not have to be wasted in the coordination of groups, time management becomes easy, and, by virtue, the learning process can be over in a few moments.

Weaknesses

·         Cumulative isolation and depreciation of motivation might occur due to long periods of personal study.

·         The students will probably not receive various perspectives and different solutions that arise through group arguments.

Group study is good as there is interaction and collaboration. This works best when applied to those courses where one needs to discuss, as in literature or history, to inter-relate different viewpoints which feed the points of understanding. At the same time, it provides a study support system that may prove motivating and reduces the whole aspect of the monotony of studying alone.

Strength

·         A group can easily tackle and solve tougher problems together and out of this member interaction, an ingenious solution is worked out as well as exceedingly creative ideas.

·         The matters of social skills such as communication, teamwork, and even conflict management are learnt by reading as a group.

Weaknesses

·         To be sure, it is usually the slowest or weakest member of the group who sets the pace at which the group will work, therefore wasting a great deal of time for the much smarter or quicker learners or students.

·         At other times, the world of interacting socially with other beings may be favoured over the studies for which it was less productive.

How to proceed?

The nature of the subject and an individual’s learning style will suggest that group study or solo study is preferred. Those subjects where objective analytical thoughts are required and the application of logic coupled with problem-solving may be better done through solo study.

The effectiveness of group study against individual study, therefore, should lie in the objectives, subject, and personal learning preferences of the learner.