In education, attention is paramount to enable a person to learn and retain that information however it is sometimes hard to keep the attention of everyone in the room, especially students. So, what can be done to enable all in the classroom to focus on the task at hand?
1. Environment
The classroom, or area of learning, must be totally clear of distractions so all can concentrate. Ensure that displays are not too distracting but can still grab attention when needed; this is much of a fine balance. Studies have shown that clutter in the classroom can also cause distractions so keep that classroom tidy!
2. Noise
Can all students learn the same in a very quiet classroom compared to that of a noisy, buzzy classroom? All educators will know that all students are different and learn in different ways. Why don’t you experiment in the classroom with noises to see what works best for your students?
3. Observation
When teaching, how many students talk when you talk? How many students are completely quiet? Can you be sure that the ones talking are talking about the work? Can you be sure that the ones who are quiet are paying attention? Scanning the room always and changing how you talk will help; talking breaks in sentences, repeating previous statements will help.
