No matter if it is a house, a dorm room or a classroom, noise is not welcome in any learning space. It affects students’ concentration and annoys them, making them spend more time than they planned studying something. The noise you are exposed to can be reduced, but this process requires some time and knowledge. So, here are some useful tips on creating a noise-proof learning environment.
Reducing Noise from the Inside
Students like playing music or leaving their TV on when they are studying. In addition, the invasion of smartphones has seriously damaged the thing used to be known as concentration. Neither students nor adult people can resist distraction and noise caused by their gadgets. So, the first step you should take is reducing the amount of noise produced by you. When you are in the middle of a learning process, turn off the TV, the computer, the gadgets and every other appliance that could affect your learning efficiency.
Sort Out the Floor
Dormitories more than often have lousy insulation. Private homes are also not much better in that sense, especially estates built by local councils. This is why it is no wonder that we can often hear our neighbors eating, watching TV or simply chatting. However, all these types of noise have a negative effect on our learning. The only way to eliminate this kind of distraction is to improve the sound insulation of the floor. If it is your own home, you could invest in vinyl flooring and the insulation materials that go with it. On the other hand, if you are not the owner of the place you live in, get some thick rugs or carpets, to minimize the effect of the noise coming from below.
Reduction of Outside Noise
When a student is choosing a place to live, the amount of natural light is an important feature. If your room gets enough light from the sun, you will have more energy for studying. This is the main reason why students often pick apartments with large windows. The drawback of such a way of thinking, however, is the level of noise that comes from the street through such windows. So, the panes have to be sealed and the windows have to fit perfectly, to prevent the noise from the outside getting into your place. Also, there are certain proven benefits of double glazed windows for reducing the noise in your learning environment, so you should install them in your living space.
Wall Insulation
In addition to the windows, you should also pay attention to the walls, as well. Just like windows, walls and doors also let a certain amount of noise penetrate your learning habitat. First of all, you should weather-strip the doors. Secondly, soundproof the walls by sealing all the cracks or flanking paths on them. The last resort you can turn to is soundproof the entire walls. Unfortunately, this is something only home owners are able to do. But even if you rent your room, try to negotiate wall improvements with the owner of the place.
Noise is never an ally of a learning process, but the modern world is polluted by noise on every level. Every student has to do everything in their power to minimize the exposure to noise. That way you ensure that your learning process is more efficient and you keep your health.
