Personal Learning Environment

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My personal learning environment is fluid, and I can complete my work effectively in a variety of settings, but I’ve noticed certain environments provide a more effective learning experience. After putting more thought than I ever have about how I learn and the environments most conducive to that learning, I have a checklist of things I like to have around me when I study, like my phone, chap stick, and a cup of tea oftentimes. These things help me feel like I have all the pieces to get going on my studying and won’t have to move from my study spot for a while. I divided my personal learning environment into the physical environment and the digital environment.

Beginning with the physical environment, I usually prefer to do my homework at home since my school days are often 8 to 14 hours long. My home is also where all of my food is, which is a critical part of studying. I like to make a quiet and cozy space either in my bedroom or the living room, usually involving sweaters and thick socks. I have noticed I prefer to make sure all needs are met so I can focus entirely on the assignment. Anyone who knows me knows how much I care about food, and I make sure I always have access to food. I like to make a cup of tea and grab some snacks so I won’t starve while I write my papers and work on homework. I always take food to campus too, so I never get hungry on my long days. Hunger is never conducive to a good learning environment.

Another way I like to learn is in group settings. This is usually much harder to coordinate because other people are involved, but they offer many advantages. I notice that when I study with others, I stay on track more from the peer pressure to get work done. I stray from my work much less frequently when others are all working around me. This is often especially helpful when we might be working on a group project. Another advantage is the assistance that others can offer me and that I can offer them, as we work on similar assignments. It’s helpful to be able to ask questions of each other and support each other.

The other crucial aspect of my learning environment revolves around the digital world, primarily my laptop and my phone. Most of my homework enters around my laptop, so that’s the first thing on my mental homework checklist. I use my laptop for just about everything, like writing papers and listening to music. The laptop is probably the most important element in my studying because it is the gateway to the internet and all it holds, as well as iTunes, Microsoft Word, and other programs. This includes various things I use occasionally when studying, such as Facebook, Gmail, UO email, Canvas, and YouTube. Some of these are to provide breaks while others, namely email and Canvas, are more work-related.

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