Tackle tough topics with group study sessions

BY BRENNA DEMPSEY / Executive Producer

Group studying is a great way to find the motivation to get those painstaking assignments done.

Gathering together with other students can help hold students accountable and complete the work that can be hard to focus on when there are so many distractions around.

Studying at home can make it very easy to get sidetracked, leading students to do other things that might be more fun instead of the schoolwork that quickly piles up if it is left incomplete.

Getting out and changing the environment is a simple and effective way to concentrate on what needs to be done first.

The library has group study rooms as well as spots for individuals to study all over the building. They can be reserved ahead of time so there will be a guaranteed spot to study in.

Lindsey Rowden studies with her friends who all have different majors.

“We hold each other accountable and get all our school work done because we won’t lock in when in our rooms, so we get out and go to the library. It helps us cause it’s a quiet place,” Rowden said.

Working together with classmates to complete assignments, whether it is for individual submission or group work, can help by being able to talk freely and bounce ideas off of them.

Jon Ruppert worked on a project with his classmates, and they met up at the library to plan it out.

“Whatever you need help on, you can work on it with other people, and I think if you have more brains in the room you are able to think better and collaborate ideas together,” Ruppert said.

Talking about the same assignment with others can help give you a fresh perspective on something that might have been confusing.

This can also help grow friendships with people you might not have gotten to know under different circumstances.

This can make it even easier to get a study group together.

Friends are a big help when it comes to  holding yourself accountable but sometimes they might not always be available or able to help with schoolwork that is outside of their majors.

It can be a bit stressful finding people in your major to study with, but Tarleton State University’s Supplemental Instruction (SI) program is a great place to start.

The SI leader for your course can help set you up with someone.

“If you need help don’t be afraid to reach out. There’s always other people that are willing to get together, and if you need somebody to study with that’s in your major, go to your SI and they can help you,” Rowden said.

There are also different lab rooms for tutoring scattered across campus that can function as study environments and be a peaceful area to work in.

The Writing Center, Speaking Center, Math Achievement Center (MAC), Science Achievement Center (SAC) and Stephenville Accounting Lab are all available to students for free.

Even if you do not need help from the tutor, you can go study and work on assignments and ask a question if one comes up.

There are people there who are able to go over the topics and review work to make sure they are the best they can be before they get submitted. This can boost grades and relieve stress that can come from worrying about it.

If tutoring is what you are looking for and getting out is hard, virtual tutoring is something Tarleton offers so there is more accessibility and flexibility.

Studying is important to academic success so taking steps to study the way that fits yourself is a good way to go.