Category
Poster - Applied
Description
Attention spans have been decreasing throughout society for many years, partially due to the constant increase of technological advances. The average human attention span of eight seconds is particularly concerning to teachers and others in the classroom. It does not seem that the average attention span is ever going to increase, so teachers must implement intentional methods and strategies within their classroom to keep their students’ attention. Physical activities, technology and hands-on lesson supports, small group instruction, shorter lesson times, flexible seating, and differentiated instruction are all strategies supported by research to improve student engagement within the classroom. Every classroom will respond differently, so teachers will benefit by incorporating the set of methods that work best for their students. A key notion that teachers should have when researching and implementing these strategies is understanding their students, their backgrounds, their learning styles and needs, and how they interact in a classroom setting. Future research includes studying the use of different technological devices within the classroom and how they hinder or help a student’s engagement and overall learning achievements. Research could also analyze the amount of time technology should be utilized in the classroom, and if any of these strategies have a differing impact depending on the number of students in a classroom.
Improving Student Engagement Despite Lowering Attention Spans in the Classroom
Poster - Applied
Attention spans have been decreasing throughout society for many years, partially due to the constant increase of technological advances. The average human attention span of eight seconds is particularly concerning to teachers and others in the classroom. It does not seem that the average attention span is ever going to increase, so teachers must implement intentional methods and strategies within their classroom to keep their students’ attention. Physical activities, technology and hands-on lesson supports, small group instruction, shorter lesson times, flexible seating, and differentiated instruction are all strategies supported by research to improve student engagement within the classroom. Every classroom will respond differently, so teachers will benefit by incorporating the set of methods that work best for their students. A key notion that teachers should have when researching and implementing these strategies is understanding their students, their backgrounds, their learning styles and needs, and how they interact in a classroom setting. Future research includes studying the use of different technological devices within the classroom and how they hinder or help a student’s engagement and overall learning achievements. Research could also analyze the amount of time technology should be utilized in the classroom, and if any of these strategies have a differing impact depending on the number of students in a classroom.
Comments
Undergraduate