Building Cognitive Endurance in Education: Developing Student Focus
Discover how teachers can become cognitive endurance coaches, implementing research-backed strategies to improve student focus and attention spans. Learn practical tips for building mental stamina in the classroom and understanding its benefits for both students and educators.
Building Cognitive Endurance in Education: Developing Student Focus
Support Why EdifyI recently came across a study titled 'Cognitive Endurance as Human Capital,' by Christina Brown, Supreet Kaur, and Heather Schofield. This research focuses on sustained cognition and attention, a concept referred to as cognitive endurance. In today's fast-paced world, many individuals seem to struggle with mental fatigue. I've absolutely observed this trend in my classroom, where students appear to tire quickly when it comes to maintaining attention and focusing on tasks for prolonged periods. After a few minutes of work, there are many kids who ask to get water, go to the bathroom, or simply look around the room.
Doug Lemov, known for his work on education strategies, references this study in his article on attention, cognitive endurance, and reading. He argues that smartphones have negatively impacted attention spans. Lemov suggests increasing reading time in classrooms to address this issue, as schools play a vital role in fostering deep, focused attention.
He goes on to say that developing cognitive endurance will require a return to orderly schools, where skills can be practiced in a quiet environment with limited distractions. Doing this can also help teachers by lowering the stress of managing a noisy classroom.
This raises a few questions: what are the benefits of building cognitive endurance for both students and adults? Also, how can we help children improve their cognitive endurance? Perhaps it is time we also see our role as being cognitive endurance coaches, guiding students towards enhanced focus and attention in a world full of distractions.
Benefits of Building Cognitive Endurance
For Students:
- Improved academic performance and learning retention
- Enhanced ability to complete complex tasks
- Better preparation for higher education and professional life
- Increased self-regulation skills
- Greater capacity for deep learning
For Teachers:
- More effective lesson delivery
- Reduced time spent on redirecting student attention
- Improved classroom management
- Enhanced teaching effectiveness
- Better work-life balance through more efficient task completion
5 Practical Tips for Building Cognitive Endurance in the Classroom
1. Implement Progressive Duration Tasks: Start with shorter focused work periods and gradually increase the duration over time, similar to building physical endurance.
2. Create Distraction-Free Zones: Designate specific areas and times for focused work, minimizing external interruptions and digital distractions.
3. Use Strategic Breaks: Incorporate short, structured breaks between focused work periods to prevent mental fatigue and maintain optimal attention levels.
4. Practice Mindful Transitions: Develop routines that help students mentally prepare for focused work periods, such as brief breathing exercises or setting clear intentions.
5. Build Reading Stamina: Regularly schedule extended reading sessions, gradually increasing duration and complexity to strengthen sustained attention.
What do you think about teachers as “Cognitive Endurance Coaches?”
I'm all in. I even made myself a T-shirt.
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