Lengthening Our Attention Span

I read a formula somewhere - I wish I knew who to attribute it to - that talked about our attention span. It correlates our attention span with our interest and activity in this way:

Attention Span ∫ Interest x Activity

This in an interesting concept for us as trainers and learners, and I believe puts the often-tossed around idea that our attention spans are shortening (cue the laments of television's effects) in better perspective.

In Microtrends, the new book by Mark Penn he talks about the trend of teen knitters - the supposed poster children of short attention spans taking up knitting. If they are interested, the activity of knitting and pearling certainly seems to be driving longer attention spans.

I have often led workshops where people commented that they couldn't believe how quickly the day had flown by. If they are interested, and you create an interactive and participative learning environment, attention span soars.

These two factors - attention and interest can work together to enhance attention span - and learning results - for ourselves or others.

Also posted in Learning and Training.

Labels: attention span

Digg it | del.icio.us | Add to Technorati