Section 1:
Readiness
What sort of seats do
libraries have?
Football Stadiums?
Cinemas?
To maintain your concentration- don’t get too comfy!
Keep alert and focused. If you can avoid your bed or
sofa- there’s a tendency to nap and doze off!
American psychologist best known for his work in twin studies and
behaviour genetics. Plomin of Kings College London has made two of the
most important discoveries in that field. First, he has shown the
importance of non-shared environment, a term that he coined to refer to
the environmental reasons why children growing up in the same family
are so different. Second, he has shown that many environmental
measures in psychology show genetic influence and that genetic factors
can mediate associations between environmental measures and
developmental outcomes.
Robert Plomin
Before you can get started on revising, you
need to find a place to study. A separate space
for you will help you stay focused on your work,
and keep your study materials organized. This
area should be designated only for academic
work and test taking.
If possible, keep your work area clutter-free and comfortable.
Ideally, you would want an entire room designated for you to
study, so that you can stay on task.
It's not always easy to have a space for yourself. Here are some
guidelines to assist you on deciding how to design and set-up a
space for learning!
Find some space.
If possible, try to dedicate a whole room to your studying. Otherwise, it may be easier
just creating a dual-purpose room like a guest room and home office, or setting up a
home office area within an unused portion of the house (like the attic or basement).
Make sure your room has a door that closes; this will help cut down on noise and
interruptions. By identifying a specific area or room as your home office, it sends a clear
message: "When I am in here, it is because I am studying."
Studying in a shared space? If you are studying in your
living room, den or another shared space, be sure to
communicate your needs to others. Maybe put up a sign
that reads, "Quiet, please – Working," or "Reserving the
Living Room from 8 – 10 Tonight." If you are trying to write
a paper in the kitchen, but you can hear the television in
the next room, you may want to buy some noisecancelling or noise-reduction headphones or ear plugs.
Pick a quiet location.
Road traffic is noisy, so try to pick a room that does not have a
window facing a main road. The kitchen is also a hotspot for noise:
clanging dishes and pans; cupboards swinging shut; the
refrigerator door being opened and shut. These little distractions
can have a big impact on your concentration.
Coping with noise.
The perfect room is one that is completely
sound-proof, but that would require
renovating! Put a note on the door to where
you are studying- let people know you are not
to be disturbed, this allow you to concentrate
when you're reading, writing and studying.
Prevent distractions.
Distractions are plentiful, especially if you are a parent. A
message board on the door or outside of your room (space) will
help with communication (especially with siblings). Signs like
"Studying until 7:30," or "Preparing for exam at 8," will tell your
family what to expect, and prevents any unnecessary questions
or interruptions like, "What are you doing?" or "Are you going
to be done soon?"
Keep everything close at hand.
Have enough storage space to keep extras around. Items like: a
dictionary or thesaurus, pens, pencils, notepad paper, printer
paper, highlighters, hole punch, stapler, book flags or sticky
notes, etc.
Maintaining your study space.
A messy area can lead to coffee-stained papers,
damaged textbooks, and misplaced notes. Give
everything a designated area on your desk and
shelves. Use an old coffee mug to hold your pens,
pencils, and highlighters. Use bookends to keep your
books stacked nicely on your desk.
It is essential that your keep your notes up-to-date. Have a filing system, so that
you can file away new papers, graded assignments, and exams. This will prevent
lost papers and keep your desk tidy.
If you enjoy a drink with your work, be sure to take the empty mug back to the
kitchen when you are done. Remove all dirty dishes after using them so that they
don't pile up and consume precious space on your desk. Another consequence of
leaving old dishes around? They might begin to attract bugs and other unwanted
critters, as well as getting smelly or moldy!
By taking a few minutes every day to keep your work are neat and tidy, you can
come home and start your work right away without searching for items or getting
distracted by useless clutter.