You may always contact SLC Study Group Program staff if you have questions, concerns, feedback, etc. about your role in the Study Group Program. Also, check out our FAQs section for answers to common Study Group Facilitators questions.

Being a great facilitator requires that you not only have an understanding of the course material and an awareness of what is happening when in the course, but that you also have a number of tools and techniques for helping your group to work together. The following links provide information on collaborative learning, group activities and other useful resources for Study Group Facilitators.

Contact the SLC Study Group staff (slcstudygroups@umich.edu) if you have other resources or ideas for how to make this page more helpful to Study Group Facilitators.

Collaborative Learning/Learning Skills

• http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/resources/learn-about-learning/collaborative
• http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html
• http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/cl1/CL/default.asp
• http://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/c-learn/44.html
• http://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/c-learn/hints.html

Study Skills

• http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/resources/study-tips
• http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm
• http://www.studygs.net/
• http://www.riosalado.edu/library/tutorials/studySkills/Pages/default.aspx
• http://www.howtostudy.org/resources.php

Icebreakers

• http://712educators.about.com/cs/icebreakers/a/icebreakers.htm
• http://adulted.about.com/cs/icebreakers/a/icebreakers_2.htm?terms=icebreakers

Activities for Study Groups

• http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/cl1/CL/doingcl/DCL1.asp
• http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/powerpoint/index.html
• http://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/c-learn/methods.html

Organic Chemistry Resources

• https://undergrad-ed.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/index.php?p=organic
• http://www.flashcardexchange.com/tag/organic
• http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/Questions/problems.htm
• http://web.chem.ucla.edu/~harding/orglinks.html
• http://ivan.tubert.org/bookmarks/Chemistry/Organic/

Q: What resources are available for Facilitators?
A: There are a number of resources available to Facilitators. Facilitators have access to a special CTools site with many worksheets, old exams, and practice problems, as well as announcements, email archives, and facilitator training and dinner dates. There is a computer, printer, and copier for facilitators to use if they want to share these materials with their members.

Facilitators also have access to the course CTools site and online homework problems for their course.

On the Current Facilitator page of the SLC website, there are links to multiple web sites that discuss group activities, collaborative learning and icebreakers. To view these resources return to the Current Facilitator page. In the SLC, Facilitators will find books on icebreakers and team-building activities.

Facilitators can also speak with the program director and administrative assistant for suggestions or help with their study group.

Q: Where can I get ideas about activities to use with my group?
A: There are a number of ways to find small group activities:

• Talk with a program assistant or the program director.
• Explore the links to activities on the Facilitator Resource Page.
• Contact other facilitators to find out about the types of activities they are using.
• Think about group activities you have been involved in with other organizations you belong to and how they might be adapted for use in your study group.

Q: When are timesheets due?
A: Timesheets are due every other Friday at 8:00am. You will receive a reminder via CTools announcement the week that they're due, and due dates are posted in the group facilitator area of the SLC.

Q: How do I report time on my time log?
A: You should record all of your study group related time on your log, including meeting time, review sessions, preparation time, and training time. There is also a line to report "other" activities that you may have done, such as subbing for another facilitator. Report your time in tenths of an hour (not hundredths) using the chart on the log form.Make sure that the time you report on the time log and timesheet areas match, or else your pay may be delayed.

Q: How much time can I report on my timesheet and time log for work done outside of my group meeting time?
A: Each facilitator is allotted a 10-hour bank of preparation time per semester for their study group. Facilitators with two groups of the same course receive 13 hours of preparation time, and facilitators with two groups for different courses receive 20 hours. You are expected to keep track of your remaining time, and stop reporting it once you have run out for the semester.

Q: What can my 10-hour bank be used for?
A: Your 10-hour bank is to be used for all outside of group activities, with the exception of training time. Facilitators use this time to email with group members, review course material, create group activities/review materials and to hold extra meetings prior to exams. Each facilitator is responsible for managing the time they use. Once your 10-hour bank is used you will not be paid for any time over the 10-hour limit.

Q: What should I do if there is a problem with my paycheck?
A: Contact Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu) and she can help you figure out what the problem is and will assist you with the steps necessary to correct it.

Q: How do I get direct deposit for my check or have it mailed to me?
A: You can set up direct deposit through Wolverine Access. Log in to the Employee Business area and follow the links. If you would like your check mailed to a particular address, you will need to fill out a form which you can get from Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu). If you do neither of these things, you can pick up your check at Wolverine Tower (3003 S. State St., AATA Busline 36).

Q: When are the collaborative meetings this term?
A:You'll be notified of upcoming training sessions via CTools or email.

Q: Do I have to attend the collaborative meetings?
A: Yes, collaborative meetings are mandatory for all facilitators. The only exception is that returning facilitator are not required to attend New Facilitator training, which is held at the very beginning of the term. Failure to attend the training sessions will decrease the chances that you will be asked to facilitate a group in future terms.

Q: What happens if I cannot make it to a scheduled training session or collaborative meeting?
A: You should contact the program director (joesalva@umich.edu) as soon as you know you have a conflict and explain why you are going to miss the session. If you are unable to contact the staff before the missed session you should contact them within 24 hours indicating why you were not at the session and why you were unable to contact the staff before the session. Since all collaborative meetings are mandatory, Facilitators who miss one may be asked to do a make-up exercise and may not be considered for future facilitator positions

Q: Do I report the time spent at training sessions on my timesheet?
A: Yes, all facilitators are paid for mandatory training sessions. The time spent in training does not count against your 10-hour bank.

Q: What do I do if a member notifies me that they are going to drop the group?
A: Since facilitators have no way of dropping members directly, either encourage them to drop or contact Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu) with their name and the group to be dropped.

Q: Can I reschedule my study group for one week?
A: Yes, but it might be a better option to find a substitute facilitator for your group. You should only reschedule your meeting time one week if the group can find a time that is good for a large number of students. This is often very hard to do. It is much easier to find another facilitator to step in for you as opposed to trying to find a common time that works for multiple people. Make sure you email Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu) to obtain a room or alcove.

Q: How can I find a sub for my group?
A: Send an email to your facilitator group requesting a sub. You can find your facilitator group in your U-M directory listing. When you send the email requesting a sub be sure to include the date, time and location of your group.

Q: What do I need to do if I cannot make it one of my Study Group meetings?
A: First, just because you cannot make it to the meeting does not mean that the meeting has to be cancelled. You should notify your members that you are not going to be at the meeting, but you should encourage them to still meet. After all the point of the groups is to have the students study together and they can do that without you for one week. Also be sure let the SG staff know that you will not be at your group by sending an email to Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu).

Q: Can I hold an extra Study Group meeting prior to an exam?
A: Yes. You should contact Katie Koch (kapie@umich.edu) to schedule an alcove or classroom for that session.

Q: If I am assigned a 1200, 1600, or other Chem room for my group, how do I get the key for the room?
A: You can check the key out from the SLC front desk. Inform the front desk workers that you are a facilitator and need the key to the 1200 rooms. You will need your MCard to check out the key. Unlock your room and then return the key before your group begins, as other facilitators will also need access to the keys. Make sure you lock the room after your group ends, even if another group is waiting to use the room.

Q: What do I do if people who are not registered for my group show up to a meeting?
A: As the facilitator of the group you are responsible for maintaining the small size of the group, therefore you have the right to ask non-registered members to leave. Allowing non-registered members to participate is unfair to the registered members who signed up for the group expecting that they would be meeting with a small group. Additionally, adding new members who may only show up for one meeting hurts the group dynamic that you, as the facilitator, should be monitoring.

Q: Where can I find markers, erasers or chalk to use at my meetings?
A: Supplies are always available at the SLC front desk for use in the SLC, and the front desk of the SLC Satellite Location for use in the USB.