Fragmented attention

"Sorry professor, I was just looking at the time." "Sorry professor, it was a message from my grandmother who is not well." «Sorry professor, there was a notification from the electronic register». The excuses could continue, finding the most serious, or most unlikely, justifications to explain the need for students to unlock the device and take a quick look at those notifications we want to monitor. It's about a moment, a few seconds. But are they really just a few seconds? Our mind is very quick to divert attention from one topic to another. But how long does it take to return to fully dedicating yourself to what you were following? What happens to our brain if we are constantly distracted?

Several scientific studies report data that underline the risks of excessive use of digital devices. "I just look at the photo my boyfriend posted." The time needed to fully regain attention after accessing the smartphone can be up to 20 minutes. «I just have to open the trunk that is on offer on Clash». A group of over 100 university students took part in a test to evaluate the effect of smartphone use on exam performance. Half of the students did not have access to their cell phones for all the lessons of the period studied, the other half were able to use them during explanations. Access to the smartphone significantly affected long-term memory and the effectiveness of learning: in fact, in the final exams, the evaluations of those who used the smartphone were lower than in classes in which cell phones were banned. Adolescents who use multimedia devices a lot have a double risk of developing attention problems and having problems with academic performance compared to their peers who use them little.

In the face of this evidence, UNESCO has also launched a warning to contain the negative impact that the uncontrolled use of digital devices at school can have, inviting governments around the world to monitor the trend to improperly use digital technology at school. Technology is now part of us, so we cannot avoid using it. However, it is essential to educate in the correct use of its tools: it is important that technology supports but cannot replace the human, relational and emotional component of teaching and learning. School should be a privileged environment to encourage the development of children's talents and creativity, to guide them in the development of skills and critical spirit. So it is essential that technologies do not favor the flattening of the minds of tomorrow.


Valentina Turinetto
NP January 2024