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A good study environment is very important for successful schoolwork at home. Some studies suggest that the physical environment can affect a student's learning by as much as 25%.
A good study environment is very important for successful schoolwork at home. Some studies suggest that the physical environment can affect a student's learning by as much as 25%.
For the best possible environment for study and doing schoolwork at home, students and parents should have a few things in mind:
It is best to have a consistent study space at home, and for students to have a consistent, set time for doing schoolwork.
Students usually do better studying and working at a desk or table than on a bed or couch. Being too comfortable (sprawling on a bed in PJ's, for example) makes for less effective learning.
Eliminate distractions such as music, TV and even food smells - all of these have shown to negatively affect people's ability to work and learn well. While many students say that they study better with music or TV, the research is clear that these have a definite negative effect on schoolwork.
To set up an effective study plan, please see the "Study Environment and Time Management Worksheet and Contract" at the bottom of this page.
Cell Phones and Social Media:
Cell Phones and Social Media:
The research is very clear on this: cell phones and social media need to be off and away for successful studying. Recent studies have shown that people are better at cognitive tasks (such as studying or homework) the farther their phones are physically placed away from them - and that they do better when phones are actually turned off.
Even a cell phone turned off and on the desk is distracting enough to influence cognitive tasks in a negative way. The best practice for studying and schoolwork is for phones to be off and to be in a completely different room.
Most effective use of study time:
Most effective use of study time:
One of the most effective ways to approach study time by studying for a specific amount of time (20 to 25 minutes), and then take a break of 5 minutes. After 4 "chunks" of study time, take a longer break (15 to 20 minutes) to check phones, social media, etc.). This makes study time more manageable,
One popular form this time management is called the "Pomodoro Technique" - please see this Wikipedia article to learn more about how to use this technique for the most effective study practice.
Because having cell phones nearby when studying can be distracting to learning, it is suggested that students use some other form of timer other than a phone (such as the kitchen timer used in the Pomodoro Technique), to set the times for working and breaks.
In the big picture, research has also shown that studying in small "chunks" over time is more effective than "cramming" in one big study session. For example, studying for 15 minutes each night over 2 weeks is much more effective than studying for 2 hours the night before a test.
It is strongly suggested that students and parents complete the Study Environment and Time Management Worksheet and Contract below. A copy of the doc can be made by clicking on the arrow at the upper right of the doc to access the doc directly. Click on "file"at upper left and make a Google Docs copy or download the file as a Word of PDF doc.
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