Attention Spans

By Bill, posted

“The amount of time that a learner can concentrate without being distracted”.

Attention spans are an important consideration when planning and delivering lessons. Failing to consider attention spans could result in the taught material not been learnt correctly.

One research study by Cornish and Dukette in 2009 found that the average healthy adult is able to sustain attention on one thing for roughly 20 minutes. Typically attention can be split between focused and sustained.

Focused

Focused attention is a short term response to a task. Typically an individual could be distracted by a knock on the door or someone shouting their name but will revert back to the task or think of something completely new.

Sustained

Sustained attention can lead to a task being completed over a set period of time. It is generally a longer term response and requires good levels of concentration.

One example could be a person updating a blog online. The person showing sustained attention will most probably accurately include all the details, include a photo and possibly upload a video. The individual who loses attention eg by visiting facebook ,may write less words, fail to upload files or not get round to writing the blog at all.

Factors Affecting Attention

Teachers can take the following factors into consideration which could help prevent learners from losing attention:

  • Self motivation
  • Levels of ability
  • Hunger & thirst
  • Tiredness
  • Temperature (comfort level)

Small steps like opening a window or not making a task too complicated based on ability could make a real difference during lessons.

20 Minute Window

Teachers should consider that learners may only sustain attention on one task for a 20 minute period. Lessons should be broken up accordingly to take attention spans into consideration. It might be possible to sustain concentration by taking a break, moving to a practical task or something completely new.

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