54 10 SECRETS TO ACING ANY HIGH SCHOOL TEST • temperature of the area (too hot, too cold) • smells in the area (burned toast, strawberry incense) • ventilation (stuffy, good air flow, drafty) • visual movement around you (your siblings wrestling, people walk- ing by) • furniture (comfort and ergonomics of your chair, desk, study nook) • emotional connections (relaxed feeling, tension) Your learning style or styles (see Secret #5) may even contribute to your study ambience. For example, some of us who are rhythmic or musical learners can actually review and retain better with music or TV in the background (sorry, Mom). Marie-Teresa, who is a bodily- kinesthetic learner, finds that she remembers the conjugations of Spanish verbs if she paces the room while repeating them! Most of us, however, prefer not to have a lot of visual distractions while studying. Now, consider all of these elements with your personality and expe- rience. What is your ideal environment for studying? STUDY AEROBICS A Concentration Exercise: Use a Study Totem Strengthen your ability to concentrate by selecting a physical sym- bol that will become associated in your mind with studying. This will be your study totem. Select one particular article of clothing, such as a scarf or hat, or a little figurine or knickknack. Just before you start to study, put on your red ski cap or set your little study totem on the desk. The ceremony will aid concentration in two ways. First of all, it will be a signal to other people that you are working and that they should not disturb you. Second, going through a short, regular ritual will help you get down to work. Be sure that you don’t use your study totem when you are writing let- ters, daydreaming, or just horsing around. Keep it just for studying. If your charm becomes associated with anything besides books, get a new one. You must be very careful that it doesn’t become a sym- bol for daydreaming. STUDY TOOLS “The right tool for the right job” may be an expression your father used to love to repeat (and you would roll your eyes, right?). Well, he was correct. Why waste your time and effort with the improper tool? You wouldn’t hammer a nail in the wall with a screwdriver, would you? The same is true of study tools. For example, don’t practice for a geometry test with a permanent marker! In fact, selecting the right study tool is a much overlooked but very important consideration for mastering your study environment. Let’s start with furniture and computers. Furniture and Computer Accessories You should use a chair and desk or laptop board that are comfortable, but not so comfortable that you will fall asleep. You should look for proper back support and good ventilation in your study furniture. Most people like to write on a flat surface such as a table or desk, but some students prefer the angle of a drafting table. If you are sitting at a computer, you should have an ergonomically designed chair that is the right height and the best distance from the monitor. You might choose to add a lumbar pad for additional back sup- port. Depending on how long you sit at the computer, you may try a leg rest or foot stool to relieve your lower back and lower legs. You may also want to buy a wrist support for your mouse pad or keyboard. There are keyboards available that are shaped for better reach when typing and less possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist stress). Some peo- ple buy a special screen to cut down on monitor glare and eyestrain. Study Supplies Try to study in a cleared space. Prepare your study area with what you may need before you sit down, such as: • textbooks, manuals, lab books • lecture notes • flashcards • practice tests • blank index cards Mastering Your Study Environment 55 • pens and sharpened pencils • correction fluid • measuring and calculating tools such as a calculator, ruler, and compass Resources Ask yourself, “What resource tools might I need to study for this test?” • dictionary • thesaurus • encyclopedia • periodicals and books • software • list of websites MINDBENDER Conduct Your Own Study Environment Analysis The goal of this analysis is to help you evaluate the three places you study most frequently. Begin by identifying those three locations in the blanks below. List them in the order that you use them, from most frequently to least frequently used. Then answer each ques- tion according to whether the statement is mostly true (T) or mostly false (F) about each of the three places you have identified. Place A ϭ Place B ϭ Place C ϭ 56 10 SECRETS TO ACING ANY HIGH SCHOOL TEST PLACE A PLACE B PLACE C 1. There are few distractions, such as a phone, computer, or TV, in this location. 2. Other people rarely interrupt me when I study in this location. 3. This is a quiet location, with almost no interruptions from phones ringing, people talking, or music playing. When you have answered all 12 questions, add the number of “True” responses you gave for each of the three places. The place with the highest total is probably your best environment for studying. Just the Facts • Take an active role in studying. • Empower yourself with a positive attitude. • Eliminate brain interference, such as physical and emotional distractions. • Nurture concentration by practicing the steps on how to focus. • Make time for study breaks—reward your concentration, don’t undermine it. • Create a study ambience that will foster comfort and efficiency. Pay attention to noise, lighting, ventilation, movement, and furniture. • Select the right study tools for the job at hand, including furniture, computer accessories, materials, and resources. Mastering Your Study Environment 57 PLACE A PLACE B PLACE C 4. I take a limited number of breaks when I study in this environment. 5. I study here regularly during the week. 6. I tend to keep my breaks short when I study in this location. 7. I rarely talk with people when I study here. 8. The temperature in this place is very comfortable for study- ing most of the time. 9. The chair in this place is very conducive to studying. 10. The desk or table in this place is very conducive to studying. 11. The lighting in this place is very conducive to studying. 12. There are few things in this location that are unrelated to studying or school work. Inventory devised by Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Cook Counseling Center