Learning Strategies for Life

Organizing Your Learning Environment

The majority of your learning happens outside of the classroom.

So, design a study environment based on how you learn.

Become aware of how you study best, and create an environment to make

Learning that LASTS.

Learning That Lasts • Light – Improper lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. Find places to study with good lighting or add good lighting to your study area • Area – Do you learn better when you study alone, or with a study group, or in a public space? You may have more than one space that provides an effective study area. • Sound – What level and what kind of noise can you tolerate? Do you work best in total silence? (You can use earplugs.) Or do you learn better with a low to moderate noise level? As a general rule, quieter is better; but listen and decide for yourself. • Touch – Your environment should be comfortable, but not too comfortable. A chair which promotes good posture is a better choice than a recliner or a bed. The temperature in the room should not be so warm that it makes you sleepy, but not so cool that you are uncomfortable. • Scent – Beware of tempting aromas or unpleasant smells in your study environment. Such distractions may interfere with concentration. If you use aromatherapy, you can find a scent that increases your alertness and helps you focus on your studying.

Focus on These 2 Areas When Creating Your Study Environment • Physical o Color should stimulate but not over-excite or depress your senses (Red, yellow & orange increase alertness) o Organization is key with resources and equipment being stored in a way that makes them accessible (maybe keep them in a backpack, which makes them portable) o Neatness is something else that gets mentioned with studies showing that a neat space associates with better learning o Supplies and resources are also important, so make sure you have everything you need to complete your studies, whether that is your notes, pen & paper, or textbooks • Structural o Furniture is important because if we are too comfortable or if our back is hurting we have trouble focusing on our studies o Room to move gives us a place to stand up, walk around, or do stretches when we take breaks from our studies o Good audiovisual space that is not distracting so you can see to read or hear an online lecture o Comfortable not too hot or cold, basically a place you like to be in

5 key factors to consider in creating an effective study environment

• Location - In order to study effectively, you must pick a location where you can focus. Some options could be your bedroom, the library, study rooms or quiet lounges in residences or university buildings, empty lecture halls and classrooms, or even a coffee shop. • Atmosphere - Working in conjunction with location, it is important to consider the factors that impact the atmosphere of your study space. Things like noise and lighting all play a role in how effective your study session can be. • Study Groups - Studying in a group is a really good strategy to study effectively, but only when it is done properly. When preparing for a test, studying with a group can be extremely useful, especially if different people in the group know a concept better than others. • Distractions - Of course, even if you have picked a good location and have a good atmosphere to study in, you will not be successful unless you eliminate or at least minimize all possible distractions. Today, one of the biggest distractions that interfere with students’ study time is technology and social media. • Resources - When you are getting ready to study, always make sure you have a collection of supplies readily available such as pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes, etc. Forgetting these things can throw you off your game, and distract you from studying!

Creating a better study environment

Avoid games. Consider uninstalling any computer games to avoid temptation. Or keep the games on a different computer in the house. Use games as a reward for completing your studying that day.
Turn off your cell phone. Let friends and family members know the hours that you will be "at" school, so they won't be upset when you don't respond. Put your phone in a drawer or in another room.

Beware of surfing the Internet. It is easy to lose track of time as you wander from site to site. Save surfing for after you study or set a timer to help you remember to return to studying.
Consider ergonomics (comfortable design). At the computer, adjust the height of your chair, keyboard, and screen so that you are comfortable. Your forearms and thighs should be level and parallel to the floor. Wrists should not be bent while typing. When you are reading and writing, sit in a way that keeps you awake and alert without causing muscle cramping.
Access to a Printer – Assignments sometimes have to be submitted in hard copy as well as through email or Blackboard. If you don’t have a printer at home, several Pierpont campuses allow students to print for a small fee. You also can check out your local library or a friend or family member.

The nature of the learning task sometimes dictates a particular study environment.

If heavy-duty memory work is called for, you may want to study alone for awhile, and then get together with another person for a recall drill.

For problem-solving, a study group may be your choice, provided the group sets some ground rules about staying on topic! This usually works best when group members have done preliminary studying before the group convenes.

A large uncluttered work space provides the best accommodation in preparing a project for presentation.

Tip:

As humans, we are creatures of habit, and studying in the same place triggers our body and mind to go into study mode when we enter the study space.

More Information - Diving Deeper

Videos

This is a picture of where to click on the video to get close captioning (cc) and to make the picture larger (rectangle) or smaller (4 arrows in rectangle pointing to the center)

Lighting:

9 Best Desk Lamps 2016

Area:

Studying Without a Study Space

Sound:

Study Music: Brain Music for Studying, Brain Power Focus Music, Concentration Music for Learning

Touch:

The benefits of good posture - Murat Dalkilinc

Scent:

Why Smell is More Important than You Think | Holladay Saltz | TEDxRVA

Google Sites

Report abuse