By adjusting lesson plans to accommodate shrinking attention spans and increasing distractions, teachers can help students become active participants in their learning and better engage with the material presented, one teaching expert says.
“If you can tap into students' attention, and if you can increase their excitement and motivation in the classroom, you can foster learning in these unimaginable ways, instead of just hoping that your course material has come across and they've learned it and perform well on your assessments,” said Jamie Trost, a lecturer in cognitive and psychological sciences at Brown University.
In fact, research shows that students learn more through active learning strategies rather than being lectured to.
It's a misconception that when students appear distracted in class, it's because they don't want to learn, Trost said. “K-12 is where a lot of effort needs to happen to get students interested in learning so that it is easier for them to have that agency or that autonomy later in life," she said.
Trost suggested these four strategies to keep students engaged across subjects and grades:
Hold "fishbowl" discussions. To hold students' attention in larger classes, Trost recommended using fishbowl discussions. In this approach, a small group of students — the “fishbowl” — participates in a discussion while the other students observe and take notes. After a set time, they rotate roles.
Build in breaks. Short pauses can be simple yet powerful, Trost said, adding that justsomething as simple as asking students to stand up and stretch halfway through a long lecture can reset attention. This strategy can also include posing a thought-provoking question or offering a short “brain break” that allows students to mentally reset.
“It can be difficult for students to power through, and so anticipating fatigue and planning in moments for rest can really make a difference,” said Trost.
Stay relevant. Keeping lessons relevant is another effective tool for maintaining students' attention. Connecting material to current events or relatable topics, she said, helps students invest in the lesson. Trost also suggested educators embrace technology with interactive tools like Slido, Google Polls and Mentimeter that can create interactive moments during class.
Start small. Trost said incorporating these approaches might be daunting for some educators. That is why she recommended starting small — perhaps pausing and asking students a 10-second question. “You don't have to do these giant 20- to 30-minute activities. You can do small pauses for moments that engage with the students and bring their attention back to the classroom.”
These strategies, however, are only the tip of the iceberg, and Trost encouraged educators to find approaches that work for their specific classroom needs.
“You don't have to look at one strategy and make it fit your classroom," she said. "Instead, look at the scope of strategies and figure out what's the best fit for your classroom.”
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