When I think of studying in a group, I think about procrastinating and spending my time chatting rather than actually studying. However, my opinion changed this week when I attended an Academic Success Study Hub in the Koffler Student Services building.
One of the locations of the weekly Study Hubs
We started off our two hour session with everyone introducing themselves and stating what they hoped to accomplish. From catching up on lectures to working on assignments, everyone had a unique goal. But by being in this group environment and making this statement, I felt accountable for my work and also motivated by the presence of the group. And it was definitely a calmer, more secure environment than a library full of random strangers.
Every Hub is facilitated by a Learning Strategist or peer mentor who helps students set their goals for the session. Since I was new, I received a worksheet about setting SMART goals: it's an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can see it at www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/asc/goal-setting. I know I’ll be using this method in the future for my study sessions! I really appreciated having a facilitator there: not only did he help keep me on track, he was able to share some resources and strategies to succeed at the break.
A few additional bonuses: there were plenty of spaces to sit, which is definitely better than roaming around the library looking for a spot. Also, there were snacks, which made completing my work 10x easier! Study Hubs run every week, at various times and locations across campus. If you’re interested in attending a Hub, either as a regular commitment or for one time only, check out uoft.me/studyhubs for the full list of dates, times, and locations.
Every Hub is facilitated by a Learning Strategist or peer mentor who helps students set their goals for the session. Since I was new, I received a worksheet about setting SMART goals: it's an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can see it at www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/asc/goal-setting. I know I’ll be using this method in the future for my study sessions! I really appreciated having a facilitator there: not only did he help keep me on track, he was able to share some resources and strategies to succeed at the break.
A few additional bonuses: there were plenty of spaces to sit, which is definitely better than roaming around the library looking for a spot. Also, there were snacks, which made completing my work 10x easier! Study Hubs run every week, at various times and locations across campus. If you’re interested in attending a Hub, either as a regular commitment or for one time only, check out uoft.me/studyhubs for the full list of dates, times, and locations.
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