I am considering offering a Linux+ certification study group at the community college where I teach Linux+. In class, we use the CompTIA book and CertMaster labs. I don’t have any experience in creating a study group, so I am looking for advice and resources that could help.
Creating a Exam Study Group
- Thread starter Alan Chin
- Start date
Hi Alan, I think there are many options that you could take, but they are mainly dependent on your schedules and the students' interests. Would this be a requirement of the course? Would it be open to everyone? When would you offer it, after school, on weekends, or in the evenings? Where would you host the sessions? It would really come down to what type of students you have at your institution. Are they academic or adult learners?
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's responses. If you are doing this in conjunction with your class, you structure it as a casual, informal group meeting. Depending on when you are offering it and how many sessions you are looking to host prior to the exam, you could do things such as:
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's responses. If you are doing this in conjunction with your class, you structure it as a casual, informal group meeting. Depending on when you are offering it and how many sessions you are looking to host prior to the exam, you could do things such as:
- ask what the students want from the group, where do they need assistance with getting ready the exam
- review key points from your course
- do labs (get them into Linux and practice commands)
- do practice exams with CertMaster Practice (my personal favorite)
- Q&A with demos
- Make it a game like Quiz Bowl or something, where students are in teams or individuals
- Share success stories or your own war stories
This here is key: intrinsic motivation.
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink", as the saying goes.
I have gone out on a limb multiple occasions, to organise extras for my students. I've encouraged them to help each other, to make their own arrangements beyond what we do in class. But in the end, >80% of my students only ever do the work in class with only a minority even turning in their homework. Let alone go beyond classwork + homework.
So if you build a study group, I'd say: don't. Let them start the study group. Let them learn how to help themselves.
Study groups can be a mixed bag of tricks. A study group's success is largely depended on the social dynamics of the learners and what's in it for them. Yeah, it's really a social event. I believe that's Stephen's point - food and games to make study groups fun (Ummm, shouldn't we be doing that in class anyway?). For most students, our courses are pretty intense and at the end of the day, the learner just needs some down-time. Our teachers always offer our students use of our classrooms after class hours for study and we're always available for questions, etc. but about 2% of the learner take advantage of the offer. Offer them pizza on a break during class? You'll get 100% participation. Many of our classes create their own "private" Discord groups for study, discussions, and probably gaming - no instructors allowed! Tess' point, maybe? At any rate, if you're going to host a study group at the college (with administration's permission, of course) my recommendation is to be flexible and let the students take the reins under your supervision.
There was an old book that I got when I was at UPhoenix called "Tools for Teams" which talked about the idea of Learning Teams. The general idea is that they would be student study groups, but would be mentored by an instructor. I think whenever they were promoted and 'believed in', they worked well.
To Tess' point, I'd say this is right. If the students don't organically make it happen, it won't be real enough to be useful. One of the best ones we had called themselves "The IntelliTards" - four in my CNST program that pushed each other through the A+. Got some very high marks. I wasn't involved in their group; they made it work. And it worked well.
So yes, organic groups work. Mandated ones, not so much.
To Tess' point, I'd say this is right. If the students don't organically make it happen, it won't be real enough to be useful. One of the best ones we had called themselves "The IntelliTards" - four in my CNST program that pushed each other through the A+. Got some very high marks. I wasn't involved in their group; they made it work. And it worked well.
So yes, organic groups work. Mandated ones, not so much.
Great feedback—there’s a lot to consider! My initial thought was to design this as a boot camp for students planning to take the certification exam. Participation would be optional, not a requirement for the class. The bootcamp could be held on Fridays, as there are no regular classes scheduled then. Students would need to bring their own computers because the college systems are configured to erase any installed software overnight.
The lead professor encourages students to form their own study groups, and based on the feedback received, this approach seems like the best option.
The lead professor encourages students to form their own study groups, and based on the feedback received, this approach seems like the best option.