1. Choose only Creators. As the semester begins, make a list of potential study group members: classmates who attend regularly, come prepared, and participate actively. Also watch for that quiet student who doesn’t say much but whose occasional comments reveal a special understanding of the subject. After the first test or essay, find out how the students on your list performed and invite three or four of the most successful to study with you.
2. Choose group goals. Regardless of potential, a study group is only as effective as you make it. Everyone should agree upon common goals. You might say to prospective study group members, “My goal in our math class is to master the subject and earn an A. Is that what you want, too?” Team up with students whose goals match or exceed your own.
3. Choose group rules. The last step is establishing team rules. Pat Riley, one of the most successful professional basketball coaches ever, had his players create a “team covenant.” Before the season, they agreed on the rules they would follow to stay on course to their goal of a championship. Your team should do the same. Decide where, how often, and what time you’ll meet. Most important, agree on what will happen during the meetings. Many study groups fail because they turn into social gatherings. Yours will succeed if you adopt rules like these:
Rule 1: We meet in the library every Thursday afternoon from one o’clock to three o’clock.
Rule 2: All members bring their favorite study materials, including twenty new questions with answers and sources (e.g., textbook page or class notes).
Rule 3: All study materials are discussed and all written questions are asked, answered, and understood before any socializing.