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Attention is at the heart of every successful learning experience. Whether learners are discussing, problem-solving or diving into assignments, their focus plays a big role in their success. Keeping that focus in a busy classroom environment is not easy, especially in a digital environment where the internet competes for learners’ attention. It’s a challenge not just for teachers but also for school leaders managing the bigger picture.
If you’re helping guide your school or district’s learning environment, understanding how attention works can make a real difference. Dr. Robin Wisniewski, the author of Promoting Student Attention, recently joined us for an insightful webinar full of strategies to improve attention in the classroom.
Check out the full webinar on demand. ⤵
This blog explores what makes student attention so essential to learning, why it’s a challenge, and how school leaders can support teachers.
What is attention?
Attention is a cognitive process that helps learners focus on specific information while tuning out distractions. Dr. Wisniewski says, “It includes that ability to switch our focus from one target to another and to maintain focus on a specific target for a sustained period of time.”
There are three primary types of attention that impact student learning.
Selective attention
Selective attention is the ability to concentrate on one task while ignoring others, such as focusing on teacher instructions despite classroom noise.
Alternating attention
Alternating attention is switching focus, like working on a math problem, pausing to talk to a classmate, then hearing an announcement on the classroom loudspeaker and looking up. The more learners engage and disengage like this, the more tired they become.
Sustained attention
Sustained attention is the ability to maintain focus on a single thing over time, such as staying engaged during a science lab activity with a partner.
Processing information in three stages
The human brain processes information in a three-stage model, which relates to attention.
- Sensory memory: The senses, such as vision or smell, grab a learner’s attention.
- Working memory: Immediate data is temporarily stored, such as when a learner is reading something, and it captures their attention during that task.
- Long-term memory: This is when sustained learning happens through deeper engagement.
Without attention, information doesn’t progress beyond the sensory stage.
Challenges to attention in school environments
There are different types of ways student attention in the classroom can be disrupted. Recognizing these can help your school team empower teachers to provide the right type of support for their learners.
Distractions
These are external, off-task interruptions, like cellphone notifications or hallway noise that can be heard in the classroom.
Intrusions
These are internal, off-task thoughts, such as a learner worrying about personal issues at home or with peers.
Diversions
These are internal, on-task redirections, such as learners fixating on a related topic and losing track of the main lesson.
Interruptions
These are external, on-task disruptions, often from classroom routines or peer interactions.
Why learners lose focus
Understanding the reasons why learners struggle with attention is critical if you want to make an impact in classrooms.
Research outlines five common reasons students lose focus:
- Unclear expectations about tasks
- Lack of relevance or engagement in assignments
- Limited opportunities for interacting with content in diverse ways
- Absence of a strong sense of belonging in the school or classroom
- Poor development of autonomy or self-regulation skills
Five strategies to improve attention in the classroom
To support teachers and improve focus across classrooms, adopt these five strategies.
1. Reduce cognitive load
When learners are overwhelmed, they struggle to focus. Encourage educators to simplify instructions and break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Ensure that edtech tools are user-friendly and don’t make workflows complicated.
For example, Hāpara’s classroom management solution makes it easy for educators to reduce learners’ cognitive load.
The “Share links” feature allows teachers to open specific links directly onto learners’ screens. Some learners get overwhelmed when they have to type in several links and end up where they need to be online for a lesson. This Hāpara feature solves this issue, providing the support that many learners need and frees up instructional time.
The “Guide browsing” also reduces learners’ cognitive load. Teachers can create a Focus Session with specific websites. This means that learners are only able to visit those websites, helping to reduce the urge to visit distracting links.
Leadership tip: Evaluate the usability of edtech tools to determine if they help reduce learners’ cognitive load and are easy for educators to use.
2. Incorporate background knowledge
When content feels relatable, learners are more likely to engage. Encourage educators to connect lessons to learners’ personal or cultural experiences. Have educators explore learning data and collaborate with colleagues to create lessons.
Hāpara Teacher Dashboard makes it easy for educators to quickly share Google Drive assignments with a learner, a group or the class. They can include background knowledge specific to the learners in their class without taking up too much planning time.
Leadership tip: Give educators professional learning time to identify community-specific themes or events and incorporate them into curriculum and the school environment.
3. Integrate multiple learning modalities
Effective classroom technology helps educators create personalized learning experiences that support a variety of students. Tools such as AI, interactive simulations and gamification can help educators provide engaging and personalized learning. It’s also important for educators to include activities and resources like peer learning and graphic novels, while also supporting extroverted and introverted learners.
Hāpara Highlights, a screen monitoring tool, allows educators to create student groups and view online progress for individual learners. They can create personalized learning experiences by sharing links with specific learners or groups or setting up guided browsing experiences for them.
Leadership tip: Invest in classroom technology that supports personalized learning, and ensure professional development focuses on ways to engage a variety of students.
4. Nurture positive relationships
Learners perform better when they feel connected to their schools and classrooms. Leaders and educators can promote a culture that prioritizes social-emotional learning (SEL) and makes all learners feel welcome.
For example, educators can nurture positive classroom relationships with Hāpara Highlights through two messaging features. The Announce feature allows teachers to send a short announcement online to the class, a group of learners or an individual learner. The Chat feature allows teachers to start conversations with learners, and also allows learners to message their teacher to get help. Both features allow teachers to check in with learners, provide SEL support and give positive feedback.
Leadership tip: Provide SEL resources, and collaborate with educators on strategies for building positive student relationships. Create a welcoming school environment for learners, staff members and families.
5. Teach self-regulation
Self-regulation and executive functioning skills need time to develop. Encourage educators to incorporate goal-setting exercises, assignment reflections and digital tools to help learners monitor their focus. For instance, gamification apps and self-paced learning platforms can help students build these skills.
Hāpara Highlights also helps educators support learners’ developing executive functioning skills. For example, they can use guided browsing or the “close tab” feature to help learners manage impulses when they’re online.
Leadership tip: Look for tools that help students with executive functioning skills and streamline learning workflows.
Promoting attention across your school
Assess what is causing distraction in your school or district, gather input from educators about the type of help they need, and invest in tools that support student engagement. With the right tools and support, you can promote student attention across classrooms.
Discover a better way to manage the digital classroom
We’ve created an essential guide for school leaders to help manage digital learning environments.
