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A few are locked into what we are talking about. I have caught their attention and kept it.
A few were with me for 12-15 seconds, but now they are gone. Their thoughts are somewhere else. I’m not too upset, give it another 12-15 seconds and they will be back.
A few checked out 2 seconds into the topic. Again, I might get them back in a matter of a few seconds.
1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…Next.
1…Next.
1…2…3…4…Next.
1…2…Next.
Next.
I watch students drop in and out of focus on our topic. But why?
I believe that students have conditioned their brains to do two things:
First, they only consume content that they want to consume. If something shows up on their screen (TikTok, Instagram, Netflix, YouTube, etc.) that they don’t like, they do not watch it. They scroll up. Next.
Second, they refresh their attention every 15-60 seconds. TikTok videos average 21-34 seconds and Instagram Reels average 15-60 seconds with bloggers and influencers stating (limited sources) that on both platforms the “best” length for video engagement is 7-15 seconds. They will watch it until the end, building up the algorithm better than if they scroll off a 30-second video when they are only 15 seconds in.
In a very small sample size (about 140) in a very unscientific piece of research (I asked my 8th-grade classes to raise their hand to various questions) about 90% of my students used a variety of social media platforms daily with the most popular being TikTok and Instagram. Based on the hand-raising method of research, a vast majority of my students watched between 1-4 hours of videos per day, more on the weekends and when the weather is bad.
Using some pretty bold estimates: a large number of students sitting in my classroom have consumed between 1000-4000 hours worth of videos that are most likely between 7 and 60 seconds each. That’s how their brains expect to consume content.Wow.
Most of these videos are on auto-play, so as soon as they hit the screen they start playing.
1…2…3…Next.
1…Next.
1…2…3…4…5…Next.
If they don’t like it…Next.
It was cool for the first 9 seconds…Next.
This applies to not only Social media but television shows…music…games…what else?
As adults who grew up without social media, Netflix, and Spotify, this is new to our brains. Personally, I had about 30 years of brain development prior to my first swipe.
When I was a teenager I would turn on the TV and pick one of the 25 programs on. Whether I liked it or not, I would watch what was on or I would find something else to do. I would turn on the radio and either listen to what was on, try to dial in one of the other 12 stations, or turn it off. I had very little choice. I would make do with what was on. I didn’t have the option to choose what was next.
Fast forward to today. On Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime I choose exactly what I want to watch and when. I can choose to pause, restart, fast forward, and basically do anything I want to keep things that are entertaining to me in front of my eyes. If it’s not entertaining…Next.
When it comes to music, I have curated playlists to play only songs that I like or songs that are similar to those I like. If I don’t like a song…Next. If I’m trying to get a new personal record in the weight room and I need the right motivation…Next…Next…Next…here we go! Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes have come a long way from trying to guess how long to press fast forward on my first Walkman!
My brain was developed when there wasn’t much choice, and those choices came slowly. Think of the 14-year-old born in 2008 or my 12-year-old son born in 2010. They have never known a world where they couldn’t watch, listen, or play what they wanted to when they wanted to. They never will. If it’s not what they want at the point in time…Next.
With the video media, after 7-15 seconds…Next.
With a new hit song, after their favorite part…Next.
With a game where they are losing or losing interest…Next.
As I look out at my classroom, I can almost see their brains scrolling. That was a pretty cool sentence we read about the Declaration of Independence…Next.
“Thomas Jefferson said…” Next.
“What do you think about the third amendment?” Next.
As I was having a social media conversation with my 8th graders, I asked a question of the class. As my student gave their opinion, I watched the rest of the class and watched as they started listening to the response before their brain started scrolling.
Next.
My 8th grader gave a response that lasted about 10 seconds, and in that time 10 of my 27 students started scrolling. In that 10 seconds, 37% of the class didn’t find the answer entertaining and didn’t want to listen anymore. Next.
Wow.
How do I teach in that mental environment?
I have no idea.
My state-mandated content can’t entertain like the videos on TikTok and Instagram. Next.
My energy and passion can’t hook their attention in the first 1.5 seconds then maintain or keep it for the first 15 seconds, then the next 15…then the next 15.
In a 55-minute class period, there are 220, 15-second periods. I can’t compete with that.
Next.
The mental environment that my students are in isn’t going away. As a matter of fact, it could be becoming curated more for entertainment with less time to between.
It’s my job to figure out how to teach in that space.
I don’t know how…yet.
If you’re still reading, share your thoughts.
Next!
I have noticed this more as 30-something's and younger are saying they have ADD/ADHD. They rarely have other symptoms of it, but complain they can't concentrate. At the same time, more people are finding doctors to prescribe some kind of stimulant. People think they are born with concentration, it's developed over time through training. BTW, I'm a therapist :). My husband and I are committed to having our children finish a video if they are watching a streaming platform like YouTube and limiting it throughout the day. Love this post!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback!
DeleteI would love to see some data on ADHD medicine prescription rates over the last 30 years.
I can highly relate to this story. I see different things people do and ill ask where they got it from they always say the internet. During class I will look around and see the people drifting off and realize it is about every 7-15 seconds. Back when I was locked up during Quarantine, I used TikTok a lot more than I should've. This caused me to be addicted for awhile, but I found that the outside world is better for me.
DeleteWow! Your article is spot on and really got me thinking. I too teach 8th grade. We (my team) have talked about ways to keep this generation engaged. Too often they check out and pull out their phones. We’ve have tried to be more creative in our teaching and try to switch activities they are doing more often. It had helped, but we are still struggling.
ReplyDeleteSame here! I have been paying attention to when a student, "drops off" and when they "come back." It's crazy to watch happen in real time!
DeleteThis is so true and you summed it up so well! I recently had a similar conference with a parent trying to explain how everything else in their world is so instant, but learning is not! I’m not sure what we are going to do as teachers but it’s definitely tough!
ReplyDeleteI listened to a podcast that talked about how important it is to write and speak in full sentences. I feel like it's a STRUGGLE to get students to do that. I get mostly one or two word answers...
DeleteThanks for your comment!
We do have to adapt to today's reality, there is no doubt. Although we incorporated the computer to class, but still, if you enter a classroom, it look the same as 1950's. Lab model structure? Hands on? Task based? Engagement is key.
ReplyDeleteI agree 1000%!
DeleteI have my students at tables of four and use a lot of Marzano structures to keep engagement high.
Not every day can be a tea party though...
https://mrvandusen.blogspot.com/2021/04/not-every-day-can-be-tea-party.html
I try to bring my student's attention to this situation often. I still do a lot of work on paper so that they are not distracted by their devices. I also require chunks of worktime with no music, phones, computers, or talking. Sometimes they don't accomplish a lot during this time, but I do believe it helps begin to train their brain for deep thinking.
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteWe don't allow phones during the school day which is HUGE.
I also do a lot on paper. I feel that engaging eyes, hands, and ears all fire up different parts of the brain!
Good points, John! Well thought out! I enjoyed this piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSince writing it I have had some great conversations about this!
Very interesting article, John. I taught adults in the late 70s in the Navy in Idaho and, after that, from 1983 through December 2017 at a nuclear power plant in Arkansas. The youngest I ever taught would have been born in the 90s so I never saw the phenomena you describe, but I can see how it would have developed. Though we had laptops in some of the programs beginning in the early 2000s, I was more computer and social media savvy than just about any of them. Usually, I was teaching the guys, and a few gals, who would become operators in the control room, so their attention span was vitally important. I can't imagine trying to teach the young people that you describe.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike!
DeleteYou may have taught my dad out in Idaho.
I teach adults in my Army job and I have seen some of the same things.
Actually, your dad and I were on the same crew when he was first an instructor. We were in a car pool from Arco with Chuck Pyron and Pat Kern, both of whom still live in Arco.
DeleteThat was supposed to go in under my name. Chuck Pyron and I were sea-returnees, meaning that we had gone to Idaho as instructors after a tour of sea duty. Pat and your dad were staff pickups, I believe, meaning that they were retained as instructors after finishing their training and before being sent to sea duty. We carpooled for 2 to 2 1/2 years. I know that your dad had gone back at least once as a sea-returnee.
ReplyDeleteWOW! What a small world!!
DeleteWe were back in the early 80's and again in the early '90's.
It was great to cut my teeth bowhunting out there!
I always wanted to ride a steam locomotive when I first started liking trains. I never really have. I am going to save money to drive a steam locomotive when I am 21 years of age.
ReplyDeleteIt can be very difficult to sit in class and pay attention to a long video and I agree that it can be because of social media. I also think that social media has informational videos and there alot you can learn.
ReplyDeleteI think that people just waste too much time on their phones and they just don't pay attention and time passes to fast and we waste in what feels like a short time but could be hours.
ReplyDeleteWe believe that some students are using TikTok in good way but most are just looking for things they like.
ReplyDeleteI agree that most kid's attention span is a few seconds, but not all are like that. Some kids don't go on TikTok or Instagram and they do other things instead like go outside and go fishing.
ReplyDeleteI like this article because about how Mr. Vandusen's comparisons and statistics actually relate to the real world. To many of the 8th graders now don't want to pay attention to history or any subject. When they don't pay attention they get a bad grade in a class and start stressing about the class. Then they might realize that they watch to much short videos and try to stop watching them but they can't. Watching short videos is like an addiction.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to ride a steam locomotive when I first started liking trains. I never really have. I am going to save money to drive a steam locomotive when I am 21 years of age.
ReplyDeleteyes
Deletewe really enjoyed this blog and this is our favorite thing to do in Mr. Vandusens class.
ReplyDeletelakyn,Ryan, and Lelan
I like this post because it shows the comparison on how teens nowadays are growing up compared to how people grew up in the 80s and 90s. It also shows how the attention span for these generations have changed based on our access to streaming software's instead of the radio an cable. In conclusion, I think this is a really good blog post.
ReplyDeleteThis story is very relatable. I think a lot of teens catch their selves scrolling on social media platforms for awhile and that is why they get headaches and their crabby and tired.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this was interesting, seeing how are brain works.
ReplyDeleteAubree and abby
I think this article shows the differences of generations very well and how most teen brains function nowadays. I enjoyed reading the article. Jacob. H
ReplyDeleteOn a daily basis, a child with a phone always consumes entertainment. They want more and more for their brains to stay stimulated or not be bored. But what do the kids without phones or computers do without a phone? Ask a kid who has a phone and they will say they have no idea. I have no idea myself. This post has me thinking about my time on my phone and computer. I used to be on my phone for 12 hours average last summer and my mom was worried about me, I see why now. On a school day, I usually spend, on a average, 3 hours on my computer and about 1 on my phone. On non school days, even if I have plans, I still spend up to 10 hours on my computer or phone. It's interesting how kids these days act knowing this is how I am.
ReplyDeleteI can agree that kids attention span is less bc of social media but social media can also be used for information and to express yourself. I just think we need to be limited on how much time we spend on it rather than take it away forever
ReplyDeleteI think this artical really shows the diffrence of generations and how the brain works and holds information and functions now. I enjoyed this artical- Emily S.
ReplyDeleteThis is relatable because I get caught up scrolling and always going to the next video if its not interesting enough
ReplyDeleteI think the article is interesting. I see where you are coming from as an adult, but from the perspective of a student in your class I think you can add more fun projects and give us options on how we want to do the project. If you give us options we will pick the one that appeals to us the most and will be more likely to spend more time and effort on the project. -Kaia
ReplyDeleteAs a person in your class I can understand the feeling that kids are just completely blowing what you say off but one thing I think you should remember is not all kids are like this, most of us can separate our brains from when were scrolling on TikTok to being in a classroom, another thing that lots of us students have figured out how to do that teachers see as not paying attention is not looking at the teacher, one of the biggest things we do is hear and see different forms of content and yet understand them both, ive read an article and listened to my teacher at the same time, i still understood them both just fine
ReplyDelete- Jonathan
DeleteIt is a pretty good article and is full of facts and shows how non observant we are.
ReplyDeleteI think that this subject has two sides... Social media itself is not a bad thing. Just like weapons, depending on how they are used they can be bad. Using social media to learn and spread learning is good. I think that the attention span of people will always be short. Kids from prior generations just eased this in different ways. Like biking, going in the woods, going to malls ETC. Also T.V. has always played a role in the lives of kids. I was talking to my great uncle and grandpa and they told me how they would run home after school and sit in front of the t.v. and watch it for hours. So I don't think it's a bad thing to have a low attention span. Like I have a very short attention span and it has led me to explore hundreds of hobbies. Which is not a bad thing. -Jesse Garvaglia
ReplyDeletethis articular was really helpful it told me how my brain could be developed by the internet. when i was younger i played call of duty and mincraft. now i play fortnight, roblox, cod ww2 these are the games im playing right now but also i spend my time on youtub, snapchat, reddit. but when i younger the only thing i could watch was youtub and the movies on my tv.
ReplyDelete