Concentrating - Multitasking and distraction
Lesduur is: 40 minOnderdelen in deze les
Module Insight: Small changes can yield big results.
Lesson Insight: You have influence over how tense or relaxed you are.
Requirements:
'Ask away' worksheet for each group of three.
'Distracted' worksheet for every student printed double-sided.
Relevant pages from the 'Slim Jezelf Zijn' book: p. 79
The Reflection
If this is the students' very first lesson of the 'Cleverly being yourself' series, you can skip the reflection.
Extra Information:
The reflection is intended for reflecting on the execution of the experiment. Students consider what they have learned from their experiment. There is no right or wrong answer here. Even if they did not carry out their experiment, it is valuable to reflect on why that was the case. By reflecting consistently, it becomes a habit for students, and a culture emerges where sharing your learning approach is normal.
Poll
Have the students answer the question via lessonup.app
Please elaborate on your answer.
Have the students answer the question.
Ask the students about their experiments: What have they learned from doing them, or from not doing them? Did they encounter hacks that they used in order to regulate their own behaviour? Did they encounter common pitfalls or challenges that prevented them from executing their experiment?
Learning objective
Understanding why your brain can't handle distractions well.
Read the slide aloud.
Learning objectives:
The student can explain what multitasking is.
The student can explain why multitasking does not exist.
The student can try out various ways to deal with distractions.
The student knows which apps he/she can try out to reduce phone usage.
The Check
Extra Information:
The check is there to discover the students' current approach. It can be a question, assignment, or test, and there are no right or wrong answers. Its sole purpose is to discover which strategies or techniques the students are currently using.
One after the other!
Form groups of three, grab the worksheet, and read the instructions.
Students 2 and 3 take turns asking student 1 questions in rapid succession.
Student 1 stands in the middle and answers the questions.
Student 2 asks the personal questions.
Student 3 asks the math questions.
Student 1
Student 2
Student 3
Read the slide aloud.
Form groups of three and have the students stand in a triangle. The student on the left and the student on the right take turns asking a question from the worksheet.
The student in the middle must answer as quickly as possible. Ensure that each trio has one worksheet.
Extra information:
The worksheet contains simple math problems and simple personal questions (what is your favorite color, where do you live, etc.). Because the student in the middle constantly has to switch between math questions and personal questions, both types of questions require equal attention. This forces the student to multitask, causing them to become confused more quickly.
What happened when different kind of questions were asked in rapid succession?
Read the slide aloud and have the students answer the question.
Ask a few students to elaborate on their answers.
The Experience
Extra Information:
During the experience, students are presented with scientific theory and practical learning tips, which they then start working with. The goal is for them to discover how the knowledge, techniques, and/or strategies offered work for them. It is important that the students experience this for themselves. Only then can they choose what they want to do with it moving forward.
Multitasking
Multitasking means performing two tasks at the same time that both require your attention.
Now, three questions about multitasking will follow.
Read the slide aloud.
Extra information:
'Attention' refers to all the information around you, such as seeing someone tapping a pen or seeing something happen outside. 'Concentration' is the holding of that attention—focusing, for instance, on that person tapping the pen.
If you assume that multitasking means performing two tasks that both require your attention, then it doesn't actually exist. You cannot give both tasks equal attention at the same time. However, if you have one task that you do on autopilot and another task that requires your focus, you will notice that this is much easier.
What is NOT an example of multitasking?
Crossing the street and looking at Instagram.
Texting and doing your homework
Watching TikTok while you are studying.
Brushing your teeth and looking at Snapchat.
The correct answer is: D.
Ask the students why they think this is the correct answer. Explain the answer by reading the information below: "Brushing your teeth is something you can do without thinking about it, so it requires little to no attention. Therefore, your attention goes entirely to looking at Snapchat. That is why this is not an example of multitasking."
Extra information:
The other answers involve tasks that both require your attention. In those cases, you are indeed multitasking.
What is the effect of multitasking on your productivity?
It increases your productivity because you can work more efficiently.
It has no influence on your productivity, because some people are better at it than others.
It lowers your productivity because you cannot focus your attention on two or more tasks at the same time.
It can either increase or decrease your productivity, depending on the complexity of the tasks.
The correct answer is: C.
Ask the students why they think this is the correct answer.
Then, explain the answer by reading the information below:
Extra information:
By constantly having to 'switch' between the tasks you are performing, you lose a lot of time and it requires extra effort.
A not-so-fun fact: People who talk on the phone while driving cause as many accidents as people who are driving drunk. This is because, during difficult traffic situations (where they need to pay close attention), they cannot focus their attention on both the conversation and the traffic at the same time.
What is the effect of multitasking on the quality of your work?
It lowers the quality of your work because your attention is divided and you are more likely to make mistakes.
It has no influence on the quality of your work, because it depends on the complexity of the tasks.
It can either improve or lower the quality of your work, depending on the time pressure.
It improves the quality of your work because you can utilize different skills at the same time.
The correct answer is A.
Ask the students why they think this is the correct answer.
Then, explain the answer by reading the information below:
Extra information:
While some people believe that multitasking allows them to utilize different skills at the same time, the reality is that divided attention usually leads to a lower quality of work. Multitasking can cause you to be less focused on each individual task, which increases the likelihood of making mistakes. Furthermore, it is impossible to give equal attention to two tasks at once. That is why it is often said that multitasking does not actually exist.
Distractions
We all get distracted sometimes when we need to concentrate. This often causes tasks to take longer than you would like.
But how do you actually deal with this? You are going to experience that for yourself during the following assignments.
Read the text on the slide aloud.
Get started!
Distractions are often a form of multitasking as well.
Grab your worksheet and read the assignment. You will have 3 minutes for this. The time stops when the audio clip ends.
Good luck!
Read the slide aloud.
Hand out the 'Distracted' worksheet face down.
Have everyone start as soon as you click the audio clip.
The audio clip occasionally contains notification sounds or other noises frequently heard in your surroundings, which will distract you more easily.
When the audio clip finishes, students can check their answers by opening the 'Answers worksheet 'Distracted'' on the board.
Poll
Read the slide aloud and have the students answer the questions.
Engage in a conversation with the students about what helped or hindered their ability to concentrate.
Extra information:
Students will experience that some were able to concentrate better than others. Perhaps certain sounds were familiar, causing them to be distracted more quickly, or maybe the task was relatively easy for some students, making them less affected by the noises.
Form pairs. Work together to come up with as many tips as possible for what you can do to avoid distractions.
Read the assignment aloud and have one student from each pair submit their answer via LessonUp.
Ask a few students to explain their answers.
Tips to avoid distractions
Clean up your workspace.
Try out different workspaces.
Do you prefer working in a quiet place or not?
Put your phone away while studying.
Ask the people in your house to be considerate when you are studying.
Choose what you are going to focus on and train yourself to direct your attention only to that.
Keep a distraction diary and find out exactly when and why you get distracted, so you can prevent it next time.
Read the tips aloud.
If you have any tips of your own, please share them with the class!
Extra information:
When dealing with external distractions, it often helps to put something away or shield yourself from the outside world. You can train yourself to be less distracted by internal thoughts through practices like regular meditation. Certain basic conditions are also very important: getting enough sleep, eating healthily, avoiding excessive sugar or caffeine, and getting enough daylight. What you do before you start concentrating also makes a big difference. Make sure to engage in low-dopamine activities, such as taking a walk, reading, or meditating, and try to avoid your phone or Netflix.
Want to check your phone less often?
Try out the following apps!
One sec
Forest
Flipd
StayFocusd
Freedom
Read the tips aloud.
If you have any tips of your own, be sure to share them with the class!
Extra information:
When dealing with external distractions, it often helps to put something away or shield yourself from the outside world. You can train yourself to be less distracted by internal thoughts through practices like regular meditation. Certain basic conditions are also very important for this: getting enough sleep, eating healthily, avoiding excessive sugar or caffeine, and getting enough daylight. What you do before you start concentrating also makes a big difference. Make sure to engage in low-dopamine activities, such as taking a walk, reading, or meditating, and try to avoid your phone or Netflix.
My Experiment
Extra Information:
'My experiment' is the final step in the process. In the check, the students' current approach became clear. In the experiencing phase, they started working with a different way of learning. Now it is time for the students to decide what they want to take away from this to try out, practice further, or turn into a new, valuable habit. It helps to make this plan as well-defined as possible. This ensures that it becomes easier to actually carry out the experiment.
Poll
Have the students answer the question via lessonup.app
How will you use this knowledge? Design a well-defined experiment.
State that it is important to make it as well-defined as possible.
Ask a number of students if they would like to elaborate on their experiment.
If an experiment is not yet well-defined, you can ask probing questions. ("What exactly are you going to do?", "When are you going to do it?", "What is the first step?").
What did you think of this Lesson?
Have the students answer the question.
Extra Information:
If you have added the lesson to 'My Lessons' and have taught the lesson, you can later review the students' answers under 'Reports' (rapportages).
Conclude the lesson.
