Hosting a study group can be exciting and a bit unnerving. Here are a few administrative tasks to consider when preparing for your first study session.
Take these steps for a great first meeting
Determine what you want to discuss
Will the first meeting focus on allowing group members to meet for the first time or jump straight into study, or both?
Regardless of what you choose, be sure that this is made clear to your invitation to others when promoting your study group.
Book the room or arrange an online meeting in advance
Informing your group members of where and how the first session will be conducted ensures that everyone will have time to plan to be at the meeting.
If you need ideas for where to host your first session, see this list of group study spaces on campus.
Create channels of communication
Exchanging email addresses and creating a group chat are great ways to stay in touch with group members and share information.
Communication is important in creating and maintaining an active study group and for coordinating with your group on everyone’s availability to meet.
Promote your first study session
If you are searching for group members, create a study group description that introduces who you are, who the group is open to, outlines the objectives of your study group, and where and when the study session will be held.
Plan to have a designated notetaker
At the start of the meeting, ask for a volunteer or volunteer yourself to take down meeting notes. A notetaker will be important in recording what the group has agreed to do in structuring sessions, taking on roles, and other important tasks.
Make plans for the next meeting
Before wrapping up, be sure to create plans for the next meeting and reflect on what worked and didn’t work well in the first meeting.
Doing these things will help set expectations for everyone in the group and set precedents for the group to collaborate in achieving the group’s goals.
Need more help planning?
Use this short checklist to help you plan your next study session.
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Book a room or create a virtual meeting for the study session.
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Create a meeting agenda of topics that group members wish to cover in the session. (Note: All members should be able to access and contribute to the meeting agenda.)
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Send out calendar invites to the meeting, including the date, time, place, topics covered in the session, and a link to the meeting agenda.
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Circulate notes from the previous session in case other members were absent. (Tip: you can attach notes from the previous study session to the meeting invitation for the next session).
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Ask for volunteers or delegate tasks/roles for the next session.
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Start/brainstorm a list of topics for the next study group session in the meeting agenda document.
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Promote the study group meeting if more members are welcome.