Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training and Performance Improvement

Chapter 7. Managing Attention

I sometimes worry about my short attention span, but not for very long.

—HERB CAEN

IN THIS CHAPTER,

I summarize the role of attention in learning and describe three classes of instructional methods you can use to optimize and direct learner attention:

• Methods to optimize attentional capacity

• Methods to support selective attention including cueing and goal setting, and

• Methods to avoid divided attention among information displays

The High Price of Attention Failure

The following headlines alert us to the damaging effects of widespread attention failure:

• BlackBerry causes pileup on freeway: WA ready to take action

• Bill banning iPods and cell phones on New York City streets coming

• Woman falls on subway track while text messaging ...