As a learner whether you're sitting an exam, reading material or studying online do you ever find yourself drifting off? When taking an online course have you wandered to another site, or found yourself thinking about something else?
Today we look at lessons from the book by Dr Craig Hassed & Dr Richard Chambers called, "Mindful Learning". Together they provide an insight into the process of effective learning. They dedicate a chapter to paying attention, going through how as a learner you should:
- Know where your attention is
- Prioritise where your attention needs to be
- To go and stay where your attention is
The science of it
Hassed and Chambers go through the science of learning starting with the most important finding in the past twenty years: The understanding of how the brain changes its response to what it experiences. With research showing that what we pay attention to and repeatedly practice gets hardwired into the brain, it's no surprise that this has phenomenal effects on the learning process.
The concept of 'default mode' is one most of us are familiar with. Whether that's driving to work or picking the kids up from school. Hassed and Chambers explain that when we're not paying attention we are in fact in default mode. In this auto-pilot mode, your mind wanders and that's when your mind is judging, criticising and not really paying attention, when you think you are.
So where is our attention?
William James recognised the importance of being able to focus your attention as the ultimate education. Yet, it's still surprising how often we are not aware of where our attention is. When you're on your computer reading an article or working, how much of your focus is on your task?
It's fair to say that a lot of time, we do not realise where our attention is but perhaps more importantly we do not notice when we're distracted.
Do you prioritise your attention?
When reading an exam paper or doing an online activity, that is the most important thing there at that time and that is where your focus should lie. Hassed and Chambers explain that when engaging in any activity there is a central focus for the attention. A relatable example would be a person is driving and listening to the radio. Your priority at that moment should be the road. Although it may switch to something else for a second, it needs to come back the road. So when you’re working through an online course that should be the priority and where your attention is. If you find yourself drifting, bring the focus back and train your mind to do so.
How do you follow your attention and stay there?
Identifying where your attention should be is straightforward. But keeping your attention focused on a particular task is difficult.
Have you ever been studying or focusing and heard a noise that you just can’t seem to ignore? This is called distractor influence. The more you try to ignore it the more your attention goes to it.
Hassed and Chambers state that in this case you should 'be more interested in one thing than the other. When your attention wanders, as it inevitably will – gently go back to the main priority.' If this is practised, over time it will become easier to do.
Finally, inattention comes at a cost. Amongst others it can lead to wasting time, not understanding things and poor memory.
You need to sign in or register before you can add a contribution.