What if Schools Are Shortening Attention Spans More Than Screens?

We hear it everywhere: Kids can’t pay attention anymore, and screens are to blame. Screens can certainly affect attention, but what if we’re overlooking something else?

For years, schools have trained students to read short passages, answer predetermined questions, move on, and repeat. High-stakes testing and test-aligned curriculum may be contributing to the very short bursts of attention we so often blame on technology.

In my latest LinkedIn article, I look at what the research says, what I experienced as a librarian and literacy coach, and what schools could do differently if we really want students to develop deep, sustained attention.

Read: What if Schools Are Shortening Attention Spans More Than Screens?