To create an optimal learning environment, minimising distractions is essential…hardly rocket science is it?

In a previous article, we briefly discussed how improving concentration related to ‘hard tasks’ (ie at school, university or work) helped improve our concentration span on leisure pursuits and furthermore, our quality of life.

To improve our concentration span, there are surely several things we can do?

Well this can be applied in an educational setting too…

Promoting tech-breaks rather than outright smartphone bans

As many distractions arise from our smartphones, having a designated break in a lesson where students can check their smartphones, or indeed having a designated time of the school day when students can check their smartphones might be more appropriate than outright school bans.

Recognising that a growing proportion of our lives are essentially smart-phone reliant (for example, emails, calendar entries and for note-keeping purposes) is important and this likely applies to school-age students too. 

Encouraging the use of educational smart phone apps

One tip is to give students meaningful things to do on their devices. An example of a meaningful application would be a language learning app like Duolingo.

I love Duolingo as it keeps learning fun, gives you rewards and combines a mixture of written, verbal and audio-visual learning.

Furthermore, it gives you XP incentives and teachers might be keen to encourage this format of learning, whereby top learners in classes each week or month receive prizes!

Playing calming, tranquil music to work to

I personally find that elevator-type jazz music helps a lot with creating a calm, peaceful learning environment.

Gentle, non-vocal, soothing type music like this is relaxing and can be played in the background without our brains paying attention to the lyrics or a repetitive beat like in dance music.

This is something I really wish I’d practiced more often when I was younger and I reap the benefits of this every time I sit down to work on my laptop!

Further Reading: Ditch the Distractions: Supporting Kids and Teens with Phone Notifications (Common Sense Media)