Studying Alone vs. Group - Essay Example

Notably, every student holds a different view regarding the most appropriate mode of study. Some prefer group study while others consider studying alone as the most appropriate. In reality, the decision to determine the most suitable method depends on the individual students. Moreover, both studying alone and group study offer several advantages to students. However, one of the methods is always more appropriate than the other. For instance, a student may significantly achieve through group study due to the dynamics of the group but also learn and understand properly in a quiet setting (Bell & Aldridge 2014). As a result, I will highly consider group study rather than study alone due to immense advantages derived from group studies.

Firstly, group study provides the student with the opportunity to gain more ideas than in study alone. Notably, the students have the opportunity to read, understand and verbalize the learned concepts to the other members of the group. Additionally, the involvement offers the students to increase retention of the learned ideas. Furthermore, active participation within a group enhances the students memory with the ability to retain more concepts (Shernoff 2014). Again, group work grants the students with the opportunity to hear from others which serves them well especially when they have large areas of study that need to be covered. Therefore, group study is more appropriate and more convenient, unlike self-study.

Secondly, studying as a group is more efficient and effective than self-study. Indeed, students have the opportunity to discuss their lecture notes and engage other students in giving their views or understanding. As observed in class, the majority of students hear the voice of the professor while they are busy writing the notes. During this time, it is usually hard for them to absorb these notes. Therefore, group studies through their dynamics the students easily absorb whatever was taught in class. Moreover, they can make their notes in a simpler way that they can easily understand. However, the self-study involves student concentration on their work and does not offer an opportunity to listen to the other students views regarding a similar topic or subject.

Thirdly, group study enhances the students team spirits which are not achieved through self-studies. Mostly, students usually form study groups on their own since they understand the satisfaction derived from group studies. The students have the opportunity to quiz one another and assist each other in areas that are challenging to some of the group members (Bell & Aldridge 2014). Therefore, having a team significantly assists in motivating each other and helps in improving focus since the group members feel obliged to help each other succeed. Nevertheless, the self-study does not provide the students with the opportunity to discuss questions. Additionally, it does not offer the students with the opportunity to involve other students in understanding their views on the same subject

Fourthly, group study enhances access to information, unlike self-study. Evidently, through group study students have the opportunity to air their views and discuss them with other students. Therefore, group study provides for an open discussion which significantly enhances the students thinking skills. Additionally, the students who actively participate in group study have the opportunity to share and discuss different notes, building and also broadening their understanding regarding the subject. This means that a student has more time to spend on the keys concepts rather and spend lesser time one idea. On the other hand, self-study wastes a lot of time especially trying to understand new ideas and concepts. Mostly, it takes more time to understand a concept in the self-study than group study. Therefore, group study is the most convenient and the most appropriate as compared to self-study.

Importantly, group study offers an opportunity to the students to hone their skills in working with teams. Through group study, students gain the skills in appreciating and respecting peoples views whether they are right or wrong. This offers an adequate preparation for the real-life whereby they can effectively embrace teamwork in their places of work. For instance, whenever students come across difficulties in their studies they can utilize group studies to solve the problem and critically understand the basic concepts in solving such problems. However, this is not the case with self-studies. Students undertaking self-studies lack appropriate communication and barely able to fully participate in teamwork.

However, both self-study and group studies are efficient in impacting knowledge in students life. They offer appropriate means in which students can use to gain knowledge. Moreover, it provides options upon which students can choose the most appropriate and efficient mode of study and that which favors them (Shernoff et al. 2014). As a result, it is unfortunate to rule out the fact that self-study also offers significant impact among the students especially those that do not participate in group works.

Again, both group and self-studies are motivating factors. Some students are very comfortable working as a group whiles other conduct self-study. Therefore, depending on the method of study both offer motivation to learn and understand. Furthermore, the majority of the students will choose the most suitable method to them. For instance, some students lose track and fail to participate in group studies since they consider it distractive. Therefore, it is important to note that both methods are effective for study however; group studies have proven to be more effective.

References

Bell, L. M., & Aldridge, J. M. (2014). Introduction. In Student Voice, Teacher Action Research and Classroom Improvement (pp. 1-46). SensePublishers.

Shernoff, D. J., Csikszentmihalyi, M., Schneider, B., & Shernoff, E. S. (2014). Student engagement in high school classrooms from the perspective of flow theory. In Applications of Flow in Human Development and Education (pp. 475-494). Springer Netherlands.