Creative chaos helps children pass exams

["Dale R. Reed" <dale-reed@xxxx>]

Creative chaos helps children pass exams
by Tracy McVeigh Education Correspondent
Sunday May 13, 2001
The Observer

EXAMS looming? Turn up the music, throw open the windows, invite your
friends round and keep popping to the kitchen to make cups of tea. New
research claims that up to 62 per cent of well-meaning UK parents are
hampering their children's academic achievement by forcing them to study in
silence and isolation.

Only 13 per cent of British parents consider setting up a specific home
study environment for their child compared with 95 per cent of Japanese
families, according to the report by educational psychologist Professor
Michael Howe, of Exeter University.

He claims that time-honoured study methods leave children lonely, bored and
miserable. Pop music, friends and lots of breaks can be far better in
helping children with their studying. Giving even the youngest of children a
radio, a desk - four feet by two feet is preferable, says Howe - an
adjustable lamp and a comfortable chair will see their work improve, as will
keeping the temperature between 68 and 74F.

Howe, together with environmental analyst Jamie Anley, has produced and
tested a futuristic 'revision prototype', a plastic pod that allows children
control over heating, lighting, seating and noise levels. 'The children
experienced a significant improvement in content recollections, which was
entirely down to their revision environment,' claimed Anley.

'Common beliefs about the circumstances in which young people learn are
simply not true. Many have been told it's important to sit up straight, sit
still and not fidget,' said Howe, who added that sprawling or lying down was
fine.

Study problems can be characteristic to different 'teen types', and Howe
recommends solutions to help parents create a good study environment for
each:

Fidgeting Teen: 'All you need do is make sure your child has somewhere to
study where fidgeting is not going to bother other members of the family,'
said Howe.

Distracted Teen: For this type, quiet and peaceful rooms are important.
Don't expect too much at first and remember - short periods of full
attention are better than longer periods in which a student is only
half-attending to the task.

Lonely Teen: They hate studying because it makes them feel isolated. These
are the ones who most need music. Sociable Teen: They want to study in the
company of friends. Let them.

Perfectionist Teen: These children should be encouraged to get involved in
other activities, said Howe.

Anxious Teen: Studying has made them miserable. Howe recommends: 'Be calm
and patient, avoid over-reacting.'

Noisy Teen: They like to study to the accompaniment of loud music. 'They are
telling you "OK, so I'll revise, but only on my terms", and that is
reasonable enough. But feel free to impose volume control for the sake of
the rest of the family.'

EducationGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001