HBL Productivity Tip #1

“I can’t concentrate at home because I study better with my friends.”

Try this:

Form a study group and meet over Skype/FaceTime etc.

• 2-4 people is an ideal group size.

If all you need is moral support:

• Spend 10 minutes checking in with one another. Talk about anything!

• Set a timer for 30 – 45minutes: Commit to getting work done. No distractions. “Mute” yourself / turn off audio if necessary.

• Thereafter, spend 5 –10 minutes discussing anything (e.g. what IG-worthy food you are planning to make next). Stretch. Eat some snacks. Drink something.

• Set the timer for another 30 – 45 minutes of working with no distractions.

• In the last 5 minutes, talk about anything, say goodbye, plan the next study group.

If you want to discuss content:

Before the meeting,

• Schedule a specific time period (e.g. 1.5 hours; 3 – 5:30pm)

• Decide what you want to discuss during the meeting, so that everyone comes prepared (e.g. quiz each other on the Biomolecules topic. Read the lecture notes prior to the meeting).

During the meeting,

• Spend 10 minutes checking in with one another. Talk about anything (e.g. How many episodes of Naruto did you watch last week)!

• Set a timer for the duration that you want to be focused on the group discussion. You may want to take note of questions that arise from the discussion that none of you have answers to, so that you can raise this in class.

• You may want to schedule a short break (e.g. 5-10minutes) in between to allow yourselves to stretch, get distracted etc.

• Set the timer again for productive discussion.

• In the last 5 minutes, talk about anything, say goodbye, plan the next study group.

#studygroup

#productivity