We Don’t Pay Attention To Boring Things

By: Lindsey Madison

The Ten Minute Rule

• After ten minutes most people tend to lose interest in what you are talking about.

• Every ten minutes its best for teachers to do something interesting to regain students attention.

Medina, J (2009). Brain rules. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from brainrules.net Web site: http://www.brainrules.net/

Attention Grabbers

1. Use a scenario2. Use humor3. Share experiences4. Tell a joke5. Show a video

Linus, Matthew (3-5-2005). Ideas On Teaching. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from cdtl.nus.edu. Web site: http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.sg/Ideas/iot96.htm

IS IT TRUE???

• Multitasking: is the ability for a person to perform more than one task at the same time.

• According to Dr. John Medina, it is impossible to multitask.• What do you think????

Medina, J (2009). Brain rules. Retrieved July 10, 2009,

from brainrules.net Web site: http://www.brainrules.net/

MULTITASKING

• It’s a proven fact that it will take you 50% longer to do a task if you are doing other things at the same time, than it would if you just do one thing at a time.

• You also make 50% more errors, while trying to multitask.

Medina, J (2009). Brain rules. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from brainrules.net Web site: http://www.brainrules.net/

Patterns

• Everybody's brain is made to notice patterns.• For example: Do you notice any patterns in this?• IRSYMCAIBMKGBFBI• IRSYMCAIBMKGBFBI• Use this pattern technique to help prevent boredom.

Medina, J (2009). Brain rules. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from brainrules.net Web site: http://www.brainrules.net/

Settings• Changing the setting of a class

can help relieve boredom.• Adding some color.• Giving 10-15 minute breaks.• Adding something new to the

environment to change its appearance.

• Switch classrooms.

(2009). Trusted Online Research. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from Questia.com Web site: http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=KWTchqKKcvkkJBWj9QbLpQBhvhDG18mkdcxy6V1Dp3gVryPQghPR!1178491195!1596248468?docId=5001677362

Monotone Voices

• Adding some facial expressions while speaking can help you be more interesting.

• Changing your pitch and the loudness of you voice will keep your listeners attentive. (5-8-2006). Speech and Voice Enterprises. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from speechandvoice.com Web site:http://www.speechandvoice.com/Speaking%20Styles%20of%20Known%20Broadcasters%20and%20Politicians.htm

Boredom

• Some self explanatory reasoning why we don’t pay attention to boring things is because we may not care about that particular topic.

• We may have already learned about the subject.• We may not be able to comprehend it at all.

(2009). Hubpages. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from Hubpages.com Web site: http://hubpages.com/hub/Raising-Kids-Who-Dont-Get-Bored

Is Boredom Good For The Brain?

• According to a 2008 New York Times article, they say people tune things out for a good reason.

• Over time, boredom becomes a tool for sorting information.

• It acts as our own personalized spam filter.

• Benedict, C (8-5-08).Your Bored But Your Brain Is Tuned In. New York Times, 5, F5.

Focusing

• According to Hockenbury &Hockenbury the 5th edition, people have a hard time staying focused and getting bored easily because of the things that are going on around them and already having thoughts in their head prior to listening to content from teachers or peers.

Hockenbury, DH (2008). Psychology. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

References

• http://www.slideshare.net• http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.org• http://www.webster.com• http://www.brainrules.net• Hockenbury & Hockenbury• http://www.nytimes.com• http://www.hubpages.com• http://www.speechandvoice.com