Emotional Intelligence: Focus Versus Distraction

By Edward Robinson

It's the EdRoboTech.com Podcast Series for December 12th, 2018.

I'm Edward Robinson. This is Episode 28.

It is the big old elephant in many classrooms:

Classroom Management. What do you do when you have lost your audience? Ask any stand up comedian, and they can tell you of the moment that you either bored them to sleep, or said something off topic, that the whole class groans inside. They can't wait to leave and do something else. And if that were the end of it, that would be great.

In Kindergarten through 12th Grade classrooms, losing your audience is generally followed by degrees of unrest:

loud sounds

negative behaviors

off topic statements

Now, I am sure this never happened to any of the fine educators reading this, but, these behaviors are the difference between focus and distraction. And, the topic, as you might know, is called "Emotional Intelligence".

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to sit still, focus and work despite distractions, discomfort, difficulty, and more, that sometimes accompanies learning new things.

Focus is the goal for your students, and Distraction needs to be managed so the teaching, or the pedagogy, can happen.

The real challenge is that learners get distracted by different things at different times, and even by different people. So, managing distractions can become a major challenge if not addressed.

The shape of your classroom can affect the level of concentration one can have. Having desks in a regimented line may be necessary in some situations, but where possible, moving desks into groups of four, and adjusting learner's seating, may help affect the environment in a positive manner.

In a technology classroom, the Worldwide Web offers many distractions. Keeping learners focused can be a daily challenge. As an Instructional Designer, I take into consideration, how long a person has to sit and think about a subject, whether it will hold their interest, and create interactions that will be meaningful, and can be rewarded.

Things that might help right away:

Adjusting classroom seating giving each learner independent space in a group of four seating arrangement

Shortened focused assignment with understandable goals

Headphones, for media, but also to quiet learning space

Breaking lecture up into small info sessions with available support

Talk less, listen more, lend support

 

Now for the Burning Question of the Day---

How have you noticed the tension between Focus and Distraction play out with students in your classrooms?

Can you attribute challenges to focusing in on a subject, you have experienced while teaching, to poor classroom design, or some other item we have highlighted here?

Tell us your story of Emotional Intelligence in the classroom:

Thank you for clicking in today. And we'll see you online.