THE ROLE OF ATTENTION IN LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE
In today’s hasty world, the ability to stay focused is more important. Whether you are trying to solve a complex theory as a student or you are achieving a deadline as a professional, attention play an important role how much we learn and perform. Attention is like a selective abstraction which help us to stay focus on what is important. Consciousness helps us to understand and remember information. In this article we will discuss how attention impact learning and performance and discuss some effective approaches to improve it.
What is attention? A simple psychological Explanation
In a psychology, attention refers to concentrating on a specific thing while ignoring other. For example: A student who need assignment help must concentrate on their work and ignore distraction around them. It is very important for our mind to pay attention on a specific thing while ignoring the other distracting things, attention is crucial for memory and decision making.
Some of the salient features of attention are:
- Selection: We decide whom to pay attention and whom to ignore.
- Capacity limitation: Our cognition has limited space to store so attention help us to focus on important task.
- Vigilance: Staying focused for a long time. For example: A security guard notice people for a long time so if an unusual or suspicious activity is done, he becomes alert quickly.
Types of attention: There are different types of attention. We will discuss each with example to understand better.
- Selective attention: Attention on a specific task. For example, A student focused on a teacher’s lecture.
- Divided attention: Paying attention on multiple things. For example, A girl take care of baby while cooking.
- Sustained attention: Stay on something for a long period of time. For example: A security guard watch a camera for a whole day.
- Executive attention: Ability to control your thoughts and attention. For example: while doing your work you ignore your phone.
Attention effect learning, how?
The role of attention in learning is very important, when we concentrate on a thing we can remember it better. Our brain selects important things and sends them into the memory; without concentration we can’t remember things.
How Focused Attention Helps?
What is the role of attention in memory?
- Boost memory: When we pay attention our brain store information. Example: if we pay attention during lecture in a class, we are more likely to attempt the test easily.
- Enhance understanding: Help in follow ideas and make connections. Example: during online meeting a client notice every point are more capable to understand things and ask question.
- Reduce error: Less likely to mistake. Example: an attentive student can solve maths question easily and find errors if there is any.
- Help with following instructions: Attention help in multi step instructions. Example: A girl who pay mental effort on cooking is more able to measure ingredients accurately.
Role of attention in performance:
Attention helps people to performs their best even if they are an athlete, student, worker etc. Without attention even the skilled person can’t perform
well.
Managing complex task: a doctor stays focused and attentive during a surgery to avoid any mistake.
Focus under pressure: A football keeper watches the ball closely, watches every movement of a player and blocking it.
Factors That Influence Attention:
There are two factors that influence attention.
- Internal:
- We pay attention to things that are important to us
- We find interesting topics easier
- It is difficult to concentrate during fatigue
- External:
- Quite environment help us to pay attention
- Noise can distract our attention
- Phones, people talking, people movements can distract us
How to improve attention:
Here are some tips that can help you to improve attention:
- 5 to 10 minutes of deep breathing can help
- Take short break between task Pomodoro technique 25 minutes work 5 minutes break.
- 7 to 9 hours sleep each night
- Follow a specific daily routine
- Eat healthy foods avoid too much sugar and junk foods
- Stay physically active. done a regular exercise, a short walk can also fresh your mind
Conclusion:
Attention is key element of both performance and learning. It helps us to perform our task effectively. In our everyday life attention help us to perform, remember things. In order to improve our performance, we should pay more focus on improving our attention with some useful strategies like getting enough sleep, by doing physical exercise etc.