space for learning

Your Home as a Place for Learning

By Khalid

There are many people who believe that your environment can help you to learn. We know that living space in the city is often tight, but here are some ways you can create a better learning environment in your home.

We talked to Gary Benenson and Jim Neujahr of City College of New York about space in the home and how to manage it in an effective way so that you and/or your kids can do well, study hard, and learn successfully.

We can't say how each person should manage his or her own space, because everyone uses space differently. But we can try to describe a few things that might help you be better space designers:

It's important that all family members understand that they can get something out of having spaces that are organized. Everyone benefits from an environment that is more organized!

Sometimes we forget that we make design decisions all the time about our physical space: We use space in different ways. For example, in the morning, you might use your kitchen table as an ironing board. In the evening, you might use it to eat dinner on. At night, you might use it as a study space. It's the same table, but you use it in different ways. When you're tight on space, think about other areas that could be used for more than purpose.

Think about the space in your home and ask yourself some questions:

• Where do you study or work?
• Where is your computer? Is it in a place that is good for learning?
• Where do you store your homework?
• Where you just hang out with your family?
• What other spaces are available in your home?
• How can you use common things like curtains and boxes to protect certain quiet zones for homework and study?

Time and rules are also an important part of the learning environment that people don't always recognize. You'd be surprised how much you can control by setting a schedule for certain things. For example, Mom or Dad, you could set a rule that from 7-8:30pm every night is QUIET TIME: No talking, no talking on the telephone, everyone just works quietly.

Or, you could set this time as TV time for younger children. Say that everyone under the age of 6 has to sit with you, watch and discuss TV, but older children should be doing their schoolwork in a different room. This frees older children from the noise and distractions sometimes created by younger children. If you are talking with the younger children, it also gives them quality time with you.

Plan certain blocks of time for your home and stick with the plan.

People make design decisions constantly. Sometimes we make bad decisions and space becomes hard to use. We have to stay organized in what we do, and keep everything in the room in mind.

When you have everything organized, and time is being used efficiently, then you'll find that your space will be increased, and things will flow more smoothly. You'll find that the schoolwork is improving, and everything involving your home is working much better.