Not all study spots are created equal. Our HEY! student writer susses out the best spots on campus for you based on your learning style
Text and photos by Joelynn Tan
We are all wired to process information differently. Personality tools such as the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator give clues to our learning style based on our personality and can help us figure out the kind of learning environment we’ll thrive in.
INDEPENDENT LEARNERS
(INFJ, INTJ AND INTP)
INTJs enjoy structure but not a rigid routine where they are told exactly what to do, while INFJs and INTPs like to quietly analyse problems and have plenty of private time to process their learning. As a quiet, peaceful place conducive to study, the Lee Wee Nam Library at the North Spine would suit this group of independent learners.
In the Quiet Zone of the library on level 5, rows of window seats overlook the campus’ lush surroundings and parts of the Johor Strait for a refreshing change of scenery. Tucked at the end of this floor is Hygge, a space designed to encourage students to reflect, contemplate and relax.
FUN FACT
The Lee Wee Nam Library is one of three campus libraries with height-adjustable tables.
CREATIVE LEARNERS
(ESTP, ENTP AND ISTJ)
With a penchant for thinking out of the box and a preference for a flexible classroom, these creative learners will feel right at home in an open environment like Yunnan Garden. Restless ESTPs who need to stretch their legs will appreciate the boardwalk by Nanyang Lake and the invigorating sounds of cascading water and wildlife as they plug into nature’s soundtrack in between tasks. On a balmy afternoon, the pavilions that are well spaced apart make great study spots for these learners and their study buddies, who can listen to lectures together or play music on a speaker as they revise their work without worrying about disturbing others.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNERS
(ESTJ, ENTJ, ESFJ, ENFJ AND ENFP)
As extroverts, these learners like to think out loud with their peers to understand concepts better. They enjoy collaborating, including swapping ideas to come up with innovative projects and creative solutions. Vacant tutorial rooms at The Hive designed for interaction are ideal for these active learners. Each tutorial room has clusters of seats for at least 30 people and students get 24/7 access. The Hive’s rooftop garden is another great place for group discussions.
SELF-LEARNERS
(ISTP, INFP AND ISFJ)
Energised by time spent alone, these introverted learners enjoy a structured yet open-ended learning environment, where they can have the freedom and privacy to study at their own pace. While they do enjoy group activities after warming up to their peers, they are not fond of group study as a general rule. The benches located at the South Spine on the way to Canteen B are a good compromise. Not usually crowded and in a well-ventilated area, they draw both self-learners and small groups.
FLEXIBLE LEARNERS
(ISFP AND ESFP)
They absorb information better in a colourful environment with a friendly atmosphere. Nothing screams vibrancy more than the Student Activities Centre at the North Spine, where students can engage in recreational activities in between studying. Spontaneous and eschewing fixed routines, ISFPs, in particular, love stimulating spaces, while aesthetically-inclined ESFPs need regular breaks in a welcoming place to move around and stretch their muscles.
Don’t know your Myers-Briggs type?
Answer these questions to get your four-letter test result.
1. At social events, do you introduce yourself to new people (Extroverted), or mostly talk to the ones you already know (Introverted)?
2. Do you often ask what if (INtuition), or do you prefer to be grounded in reality (Sensing)?
3. When making big decisions, do you tend to follow your head (Thinking) or your heart (Feeling)?
4. Do you use organising tools like schedules and lists (Judging), or keep things open-ended, spontaneous and flexible (Perceiving)?
HEY! STUDENT WRITER
Joelynn loves sunflowers and sunsets. When she is not writing, she is daydreaming about lying on the beach and looking at the stars.
This story was published in the Jun-Aug 2022 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
