where can i do my homework near me

where can i do my homework near me

Finding the Perfect Study Spot

1. Libraries: Ideal Spaces for Concentration

Libraries can be the best places to complete your homework or study for a test. A quiet atmosphere, the right study spot, and the atmosphere of libraries make it a fantastic educational environment. When you need to finish a huge project, a library is a great place to get the work done. Certain libraries even have places where the public isn’t allowed to go, like The Library of Congress has the preservation room and the study room. Most libraries have a reference section (such as a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a thesaurus, etc.), again perfect for doing homework. And if you need help, the reference librarian is usually not too far away. Most public libraries today offer free Internet access. This is great for a student with a computer and a research paper. Because most reliable source of information is accessible online. Most of the information accessible online would cost you to retrieve it, or would be unavailable to the public. Free Internet access saves you money, and you can type your rough draft on the computer. Students and others can take home materials, or even check out a private study room. These are rarely used and are almost always available, and the peace and quiet is great for a student looking to get work done. Schools often go on field trips to libraries, where their library cards are used to check out materials needed for a class project. It’s a controlled environment, with plenty of free learning materials and someone to help if you get stuck. Any way you look at it, the library is the perfect place for students of all ages to get their educational work completed.

2. Coffee Shops: Combining Caffeine and Productivity

Coffee shops have become a popular study spot for students in recent years. Jennifer LaRue Huget, in the article “The Buzz on Caffeine,” states that “it is a rare college campus that doesn’t house at least one espresso joint, and these days a college town wouldn’t be a college town without a Philadelphia-style-roastery-cum-espresso-bar-with-latte-on-the-side.” The availability and acceptance of caffeine has multiplied. In 1991, half of college students described themselves as regular coffee drinkers, compared with nearly three-quarters in 2003, according to the National Coffee Association. Today, many college students consume coffee not only for the taste and warmth, but also for the ability to reduce physical fatigue, restore alertness, and increase concentration. Outside the constraints of university campuses, coffee shops serve as a place for both college students and college-educated professionals to take part in an alternate study site. Christopher Boak and David J. Schneider found in the article “What are the Benefits of a Campus Coffee House for Undergraduates?” that “students who did not usually go to the on-campus coffee house were recently trained to associate the coffee house with studying and subsequently studied in the coffee house for one hour…students who studied in the coffee house achieved higher quality exam scores than students who studied in the library.” In a recent interview with a Starbucks shift supervisor, I was told that she sees a rather large number of students and professors grading papers. She says that the atmosphere of the coffee shop is more relaxed and comfortable than a library, while still maintaining a low hum of noise – an environment which some people concentrate best in. The availability of caffeine and a relaxed study atmosphere makes the coffee shop an ideal place for productivity.

3. Co-working Spaces: Collaborative Environments for Success

The rich tradition of library study has found its way onto the internet, where one can access a vast array of resources and knowledge. Co-working spaces such as ‘Google Campus,’ ‘TechHub’ and ‘Innovation Warehouse’ are fast becoming the go-to location for students and entrepreneurs looking to perform intense, focused study, collaborate with others and access a cultivated network of like-minded individuals. Contrary to popular belief, co-working spaces are not purely for business ventures in the tech industry, rather many accommodate students by providing discounted membership passes (TechHub offers a free membership scheme) and access to resources to aid them in personal projects, start-ups, and study. As you’re likely to be amongst professionals, working between others can be a motivating experience. By surrounding oneself with those who have ambition, a conducive work environment, and an entrepreneurial spirit, one can feel a certain competitiveness to accomplish their own goals. The setting is often more relaxed than a library and members are free to come and go as they please, taking breaks if need be without the worry of security or noise complaints. Wi-Fi is a given and with many co-working spaces having been set up within the past five years, you can expect the technology and resources to be top-notch. Any tech-related issues can be quickly fixed and with workshops, seminars, and networking events regularly held, you can always increase your breadth of knowledge. However, the flexibility and networking opportunities at co-working spaces can also be a double-edged sword. With nobody to force you to attend and no prospect of wasting money (with the frequency of breaks, it’s not unlikely that one could burn an entire day of paid study and accomplish little), it’s easy to become an irregular visitor. The opportunities to socialize and network are great but left unchecked they can turn into a means of procrastination. Despite excellent resources, the nature of the environment may also be unsuitable for those who require silence and isolation to best concentrate. Membership fees at many spaces are also quite high and without taking full advantage of what is offered, one may feel that it is not worthwhile. It is worth considering the type of work you wish to accomplish and whether the social aspect is secondary to your main purpose. With that said, a co-working space can be an incredibly enriching experience if the right balance between work and play is struck.

4. Community Centers: Quiet and Convenient Study Areas

This area is often overlooked in the search for a good study spot. Community centers often offer a quiet environment with little foot traffic in and out. The largest draw to using community centers is that the rooms are generally cozy, clean, and quiet. Some community centers have a policy about noise levels and are not afraid to ask visitors to keep it down. Community centers may also offer a piano or some leisure activities you can take part in to cool down after a focused session of studying. This variety in activities can be a refresher to your sessions before returning to the books and tackling your next task. Most community centers offer WiFi capabilities to the general area. Be sure to find out if these centers have an open WiFi signal or if a password must be granted to gain access. This can be the biggest downfall of using this as a study spot and if funds allow, it has been noted to offer a small inconvenience fee to use the center’s internet line. Check with the local center on their policies of internet use for the general public.

5. Online Platforms: Virtual Study Spaces for Flexibility

What is an online platform? In this day and age, a large majority of students rely on the internet for flexibility and accessibility to their assignments and tasks. An online platform refers to any third-party software or website that offers students a different space to do their studies in comparison to the traditional study areas. This can be a virtual tutoring session, using a specific website for a certain textbook, or utilizing Google Hangouts or Skype to do group work. The goal behind these sites is to fulfill a specific study task in place of providing a space for general study. This is done with the idea that changing the format of a study task can make it more or less effective. One example of an online platform is Google Scholar and JSTOR, which offer students journal articles and academic sources in comparison to doing their academic research from a library and only using books and print resources. This could be more effective as it gives students access to a wider array of academic sources and provides a database for academic research in comparison to searching through general web surfing.