Analog Study Session

Unplug and focus with the College's new analog study sessions! These dedicated spaces give College students a chance to leave their phones and other devices at the door and enjoy a distraction-free, tech-free study space. 

No registration is required! Just come on by. Analog study supplies like paper, pens, highlighters, dictionaries, and snacks will be provided. 

Please enter Cohen Hall on the ground floor, via the Admissions doors at the top of the steps facing Penn Commons. 

For those who need to print course materials to use during the session, we offer printing of study materials for free with advance request as a pilot program this semester. To take advantage of printing, please upload materials before noon on Friday, using this form. 

Note: Analog Study Sessions will take place each Sunday except Homecoming and Thanksgiving weekends (November 15 and 29).

Tips for Analog Study

Reading, writing, and working on assignments without tech has huge rewards in terms of reducing distraction and learning more readily. But since we rely on our devices for so many details of life, it does take some preparation.

Beforehand

Make a plan: Decide in advance what you want to work on and how long you think you’ll spend on it.

Gather course materials: You’ll need any reading or worksheets ready in printed form, of course. You might also need to print or copy out the syllabus or instructions for a specific assignment. Which pages are you assigned to read? Did the instructor give questions or themes to consider while reading? (You can take advantage of our printing offer if attending the Sunday sessions!) If you are writing, do you need any additional texts? If you are working on a problem set, do you need a textbook, a few pages of lecture notes, or a printed sheet of formulas or examples to refer to? Set yourself up for the specific task you’ll be tackling.

Gather supplies: Have something to write with, something to write on, and some scratch paper where you can jot notes or rough versions. (Our Sunday sessions will have these supplies available for you, so no need to shop in advance.)

While studying

Set up a jot page (some people call it an “audit notepad”) where you can write down anything that comes into mind to use tech for, whether it’s on task or not. When you need to look something up for your project, write it down—and note why it’s relevant. When it occurs to you that you meant to rsvp for that party, write it down to do online after you leave. Once your analog time is over, you can decide which online things are worth your time. Of course if something is actually urgent, you can always retrieve your phone and step out for a few minutes’ break.

Reading: If you’re not used to reading academic assignments on paper, you’ll need to learn for yourself whether you prefer to annotate with post-its, highlighters, underlining, or notes on a separate page. Try out different methods to see what helps you process best.

Writing: Writing a first draft or outline of an essay can be a great thing to do with a tech-free hour or two. You can note for yourself places that you need to do more research, look things up, or double check your conclusions. Later, the process of typing up your written work provides a way to see your draft with fresh eyes and a lowkey opportunity to do some first revisions.