Distracted learning: Big problem and golden opportunity

Abstract

Numerous studies from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience have generated substantial evidence suggesting that multitasking while doing schoolwork has a significant detrimental effect on student learning and performance. Despite this evidence, attending to multiple streams of information and entertainment while doing homework, writing a paper, studying, or even during class (face-to-face or online) has become common behavior among young people. Thus, the objective of this trends article is to discuss some of the latest research findings associated with distracted learning, including why students, and people in general, get distracted in the first place, and to share some effective approaches and ideas to help our students, and ourselves, get focused. Learning how to become indistractable is an essential and timeless skill for success in education, as well as many other facets of life.