PAYATTENTION!PAYATTENTION!ADULT LEARNERS NEED ENGAGING COURSE DESIGN
For the past few years, researchers have said that
human adult attention spans have dropped from
That’s an attention span supposedly smaller than that of a goldfish!
12 to 8 seconds
Others say that while an adult’s attention span actually lasts around 20 minutes, their attention has to be
captured within 8 seconds.
capture their attention attention span
EITHER WAY,IT’S CLEAR THAT TECHNOLOGY
HAS CHANGED THE WAY OUR
BRAINS PROCESS INFORMATION.
ADULTS NOW TEND TO...
multitask and multiscreen
frontload with high bursts
of immediate attention
have lower tolerance
for tedious or boring
content
This is problematic since many tasks require long-term, sustained attention—especially in the workplace.
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WHAT AFFECTS TENDENCY TO PAY ATTENTION IN THE WORKPLACE?
Length of time
worker is expected
to be engaged
Level of interest
in the task
Technology
dependency and
addiction
2015 study shows
that 45% of workers
are bored at workFacebook, phone, etc;
34% of workers use
Facebook at work for
non-work purposes
WHAT HELPS ADULTS PAY ATTENTION IN THE WORKPLACE?
Take a 15 minute break
every 2 hours
Practice mindfulness
and meditate
Listen to music
you love
Limit distractions Make a list of your
tasks in order of
priority
HOW COURSE DESIGN CAN ADDRESS CHANGES IN HOW ADULTS PAY ATTENTION:
Microlearning(break it down)
Variety in
activities (switch/add
stimuli)
Use a storytelling
narrative(increases interest)
Job aids and resource
libraries(at-need, on-the-job learning
rather than compulsory,
irrelevant, dense content) Put something
compelling in the
first 8 seconds (to grab attention)
De-clutter
your course(delete extra
graphics, audio,
text, etc.)
SOURCES:
https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/best-practices--content-marketing/2016/the-great-goldfish-attention-span-myth--and-why-its-killing-cont
https://www.eleapsoftware.com/the-key-to-overcoming-minuscule-attention-spans-when-training-employees/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/opinion/the-eight-second-attention-span.html
http://www.forumevents.com/press-releases/195/Attention-Span-in-The-Work-Place
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/millennials-short-attention-spans-workplace
http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/06/22/social-media-and-the-workplace/
https://getvoip.com/blog/2015/11/09/survey-americans-are-bored-at-their-jobs/
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2008914,00.html
https://elearningindustry.com/key-tips-working-short-attention-spans
http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/30-tricks-for-capturing-students-attention/
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