Engage students in managing distractions

Module: Building Resilient Learners

Unit: Engage students in managing their distractions and maintaining focus

 Losing focus or getting distracted is an inevitable part of learning, it happens to all of us. As learners we come across distractions, both internal and external. If we are hungry, tired or anxious we find it hard to concentrate. Equally if there is too much going on around us or something unexpected happens, we may lose our focus get side-tracked. But unless students are assisted to cope positively and practically with such situations their deep engagement with learning may be in jeopardy.

This Unit aims to;

• help teachers to analyse their students’ awareness of and strategies for being distracted;
• look at their own practice in developing a learning culture that helps students to maintain focus;
• suggest practical strategies to increase students’ skill and confidence in dealing with internal and external distractions;
• assist teachers to use a learning enquiry method to help shift their practice.