Teach the Brain Forums

A neuro-scientist said recently that 45 minutes straight is just too long to sustain attention. How did he know? Aside from his research? Because he went back to school and just couldn't believe the long lectures and tried hard not to fall asleep. So...

Do you have any tricks or methods for allowing your students to concentrate better? To break up the time? What are they?

April 13, 2006

Good Morning,

45 minutes behind the desk is too long for some students and not long enough for others. The nature of the subject material is often relevant in minutes behind the desk. Is there an ideal amount of time that is best for all subjects? We don't know that....and the neuro-scientist is most likely expressing an opinion.

The reality of the block of time is most likely not set historically by the needs of students...It is most likely set around external sources such as bus schedules, money, administrative justifications to board...legislative mandate etc. Our system is still built on a premise that if a child is not doing well in reading then increase the amount of time for that student in reading. Actually we know that repeating the same incorrect reading application over a longer period of time just inculcates non adaptive neuronal networks in the brain [prior learning]. The student might need additional time with scaffolding and personal mentoring to reflect on correct use of habits.

A good example of how not to teach a swimmer would be to have them just swim laps without any stroke correction....however I will agree that the increased laps will most probably build endurance along with incorrect stroke mechanics.

It does takes resolve, but if your students are bored and dropping off to sleep then do something different ....entirely different....take them for a walk a jog or even visit to the ball field for some exercise.

Change routines.....play learning games.....play non learning games....Are you worried about your boss coming in...and seeing this....well...it might be a good ideal to meet with your boss before he or she comes in to visit and explain what he or she might see.
Rob

thanks for the reply Rob.
and others? in keeping with this forum being a grass-roots discussion,
i am looking for teachers to give some examples of specifics they use with the kids, in the
classroom, Rob mentioned change routines, but what specific routines,
what has helped, what is new that you are trying?
looking forward to hearing,
Stephen

In terms of getting students out from behind their desks, the problem in my experience, is that their is no space?
With narrow corridors between each line of desks.
Any movement is extremely limited?

The idea of larger classrooms is off the agenda.
But perhaps, we might see the elimination of desks from most classrooms?
Afterall, what is their purpose?
Something to 'write on'.
But in an age where young children are using hand held phones for text messaging.
Perhaps desks might be replaced with a hand held device?
Or maybe I should say, will be?
Their is much discussion about the impact of the introduction of E-Learning, though it is focussed on the Software?
Yet, what about the Hardware?
As I reflect on this, it seems rather obvious?
Classrooms where students are no longer tied to a desk?

Which raises the next question, about the potential that this will open up?
Desk free classrooms?
Geoff

Some may know that I am an advocate of play-based communication in the classroom. Stephen, I'd be curious to know what you think after reading these teacher journals.

Hi again,

first, thanks papertalker for the info! i'll be sure to read and get back to you.

i was wondering: since spring is here, summer coming up, (well, depending on where you are located in the world) but let's say, when it gets really hot in the classroom, students are falling asleep, TEACHERS: do you take your class outside sometimes? WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE? Do you sometimes see that students learn better outdoors? or do you kind of just hang out and play a game? or just hang out?

well, pls send me some examples, i would really like to see and then pass onto one of our specialists in brain research, and have them comment back,

have a good day,

Stephen

Stephen,

I hear you champing at the bit. Are you a student, a teacher, or a gadfly? (these can be found indoors and outdoors, and the bite is the same We do need gadflies. I think they are endangered.

Look, the nicer it is, the longer we must stay in. And when we go out, we must watch the time because we have to go in soon. You know the drill.

If you must be inside, time passes joyfully when play is driving the experience. Take, as an example, ye old book report. Yawn. 10th grade. Biography on Henrik Ibsen. Tasks: Read the book. Write the report. Read the report. Class: Listen to each classmate's report ad nauseum droneum to tearsum. And now what do we really recall? What deserves our majestic capacity for recall and meaning? Certainly not a monotone litany of book reports.

Now, if you were to play with this, and, say, make a papertalker puppet version of Mr. Ibsen, the student would 1) read the book with, say, seven interview questions in mind; 2) prepare to answer them. (They would be 'asked' by the teacher or a classmate.) 3) In class, being interviewed, Mr. Ibsen would talk about his life and plays. 4) He would get some laughs with a joke or a stumble or two.

Using play as a governing principle, the teacher is choosing to have the class entertained and captivated by the playful experience of having Mr. Ibsen literally show up and be part of the class for a very memorable moment in time--to the point where you might see insights, observations, and questions expressed --and presto chango--the teacher has broken through the old patterns of communication, using the elements of movement, emotion, the hand, and play. In effect, if you are not literally outdoors, you have escaped outside the box. I rest my case. Not a bad deal.

Stephen! Take your head off the desk, right now, or off to the office with you. I just wanted to compliment you, and thank you for your dissatisfaction. We should all be more than fed up with the old-school nonsense by now.

the best concentration is not PEACE, but some music in peace!! I can concentrate very well wel derz my music playin, otherwise am just KNOCKED OUT wen the atmosphere is too peaceful!

thanks for the response,
there is also an ongoing debate on using technological devices in the
classroom on our other forum called CERI FORUMS, you can join that as well, and take a look, if you wish

http://www.ceri-forums.org

have a good day,
stephen