This paper describes how the Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) operated the first study groups, what topics they investigated, what fruit they bore, and what the study group members and AEL staff later said they would do differently or the same way next time. Major topics discussed in the paper are: how groups were initiated and organized, what processes groups used, and how products and information were disseminated. The last part of the paper reports on the results of a survey sent to 1986-87 study group members assessing: (1) the importance of 33 potential topics; (2) the feasibility of using the study group approach to address these topics; and (3) the desirability, benefits, and potential problems in forming several new types of study groups. The survey form and a discussion guide are appended. (JD)