A visitor seeing the exterior of the Groza Learning Center for the first time will quickly recognize the sense of calm created by the idyllic surroundings. Even just a brief look inside will reveal that the center has clearly devoted a great deal of energy to creating an ideal educational environment in which students feel comfortable, confident and motivated throughout the time they spend working on their academics.
According to Scott Groza, the co-founder of the Groza Learning Center, this focused attention on décor is quite intentional and is based on the idea that students are able to work in a more efficient manner when the surroundings are conducive to learning. Students who find it difficult to complete their academic responsibilities at home may experience a sincere benefit from creating a dedicated study space of their own. Of course, this requires a basic understanding of the elements that contribute to making a particular space ideal for academic pursuits.
While the most critical component in designing a dedicated study space at home involves some honest self-reflection, there are some general guidelines that have been proven to be effective for an overwhelming majority of students. A study space should feature adequate lighting supplemented by natural light whenever possible and should be oriented in a way that creates a sense of open space. A cluttered room may feel restrictive or induce a feeling or claustrophobia, which is certainly not ideal for enhancing productivity.
Once a clean and brightly lit room has been selected, students should take some time to consider the situations in which they are most productive. This might include determining the ideal room temperature setting, the orientation of their desk or general workspace and the level of background noise that is acceptable. The latter issue is perhaps the most personal, especially since students often like to listen to music as they work. Music can be beneficial, but it has been determined that it should be listened to at a low volume and should be familiar enough to the student that it does not create an unnecessary distraction.
With a specific space dedicated to academic work, students are far more likely to not only be productive and efficient but will also retain information at a much greater rate. Implementing just a few simple strategies for designing an ideal study space can be a tremendous help to the student and will also demonstrate the importance of diligently focusing on whatever task happens to be at hand.