College Tips

Transform your study space with practical tips from student research

In March 2020, UWL student Joseph Quintana found himself working at a folding table in the corner of his living room while his partner taught third grade nearby. The pandemic forced Quintana, along with countless others worldwide, to rethink how remote work and education are managed within the confines of their homes.  

Quintana vividly recalls how his ability to focus and be productive in both his academic and professional roles was severely challenged during this period. However, this disruption had a silver lining: it inspired a research question about the interplay between physical spaces and learning. Quintana's experience led him to write his Student Affairs Administration graduate dissertation on how people select and develop their learning spaces, and how these environments impact their academic experiences.

His research is particularly relevant as online degree programs and enrollments continue to grow, even in a post-pandemic world. While campuses have expanded beyond their physical boundaries, little is known about where and how online students complete their academic work. 

Quintana conducted interviews and collected photos of home learning spaces to explore the experiences of eight adult online learners enrolled in fully-online programs within the UW System. His findings revealed that the physical space where students study plays a crucial role in their educational experience. Access to conducive study environments was shown to positively influence the pursuit of online degrees. 

Through his research, Quintana identified common themes among his subjects regarding what makes an effective study space. These insights offer practical tips for students looking to enhance their own learning environments. 

Effective study spaces

Manage distractions. Managing distractions appeared to be the most central and essential consideration for study participants as they established primary spaces to do online schoolwork. Most participants found various ways of distancing themselves, both physically and mentally, from other people in their houses to mitigate distractions. This often occurred by setting expectations with family or roommates that they are studying and were not to be disturbed. Closed doors often served to separate participants from other individuals in their home. Often a closed door meant “do not disturb” or that interruptions were not welcome. 

Create a feeling of comfort. All participants conveyed the importance of being comfortable in their space, though the concept of comfort meant different things to different individuals. For some, comfort meant adequate light, temperature, noise levels, and views to outdoors/nature. Others considered the physical desk, chair, and/or keyboard to be most important for comfort. Still others considered a general academic ambience or atmosphere to be important aspect of a comfortable study space. 

Use a table and technology. Most participants shared that their primary study space was a large desk or table with plenty of space to spread out their materials for use. All participants used a laptop computer for much of their work, and many indicated they have dual external monitors that supply additional electronic workspace.  

Get access to required materials nearby. Almost all participants discussed the importance of having all the necessary materials readily available to them in their study space. Participants did not like to leave the space to retrieve a required item. Part of their desire to remain in their workspace was because participants feared they would get distracted when venturing away, and it may take them longer to return to their academic work.  

Dedicate storage space. Many participants had dedicated storage space such as bookcases and drawers to keep things that were not needed for the immediate task but that they wanted to keep within their study space. Some interviewees indicated that keeping these other items nearby, but still out of their view, helped them to focus and not get distracted or overwhelmed by too much clutter. 

Make modifications to shift mentality.  Some participants benefited from making the space feel more like a place for learning by adding features that reminded them of academics such as a bookshelf or diploma. Modifying the space helped to promote an attachment to the space, which made it a more desirable spot for spending a lot of time. 

Develop a routine. Most participants shared that they established certain times of day, or certain days of the week, that were dedicated study times and that these dedicated times were crucial to their productivity and success. These planned and regular times were almost always spent in the primary learning space and thus participants either (a) made an effort to ensure their primary space was available at that time or (b) scheduled their work to align with when the space was available for use. 

How can we support online learners in their study spaces?  

Individuals working in roles that support adult online learners should encourage those learners to assess their available learning spaces early in their program. Some example questions to guide these conversations include: 

• “Where and when do you plan to complete most of your schoolwork? Have you used these spaces for academic or work-related tasks previously?” 
• “In your previous educational experiences, where did you feel you had success working, and where did you find it difficult to work? Do you feel you have access to spaces that will help you be successful?” 
• “Do other people use your study spaces regularly, and if so, how will that impact your ability to use the space?” 
• “What conversations are you having with your family about being a student again?” 

Considering an online degree? 

UWL offers a wide array of online graduate degrees and certificates, spanning business, technology, science, healthcare, and education. Check out our list of programs to learn more.