The Brain Science of Attention | Cathy Davidson | Talks at Google | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Kathy Davidson and Howard Rheingold discuss the importance of attention and the need to embrace distraction in learning and work in the digital age.

Key Insights

• 🤕 Traditional education and work environments have been focused on individual task-specific attention, but this approach may hinder creativity and learning in the digital age.
• 🪘 Distraction and multitasking can be valuable tools for enhancing attention, creativity, and learning, as long as individuals have methods and strategies to maintain focus when necessary.
• 👻 Institutions and organizations need to incorporate more flexible and collaborative approaches to learning and productivity that allow for experimentation and the inclusion of diverse perspectives.

Transcript

welcome to this authors at Google Talk um Kathy Davidson has emerged as a voice for not only rethinking pedagogy but the education system as a whole exploring the role of digital media in learning and teaching she co-authored the future of thinking learning institutions in the digital age she co-founded Haystack Humanities Arts sciences and technol... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Kathy Davidson approach teaching and learning in her own courses?

Kathy Davidson encourages distraction and multitasking in her classroom, allowing students to use laptops and cell phones to engage with the material in their own ways. She also gives students the opportunity to take control of the class and teach topics that interest them.

Q: How does Howard Rheingold challenge traditional constructs of the classroom?

Howard Rheingold believes in the power of collaboration and using technology as a tool for learning. He promotes the use of social media and online platforms to create an interactive and engaging learning environment.

Q: What are some practical ways to embrace distraction and multitasking for enhanced learning?

Kathy Davidson suggests activities such as looking away and describing what you see, listening to the room with your eyes closed, or engaging in mindfulness exercises like focusing on a raisin in your mouth. These exercises help individuals become aware of their own attention patterns and develop metacognition.

Q: How can individuals balance multitasking and maintain focus and attention?

It is important to recognize that sustained focus and flow experiences are not meant to be sustained all the time. While multitasking can be productive and provide novel insights, it is necessary to engage in activities that help individuals find balance and develop mindfulness, such as meditation or handwriting.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kathy Davidson challenges traditional ideas of education by introducing methods that encourage distraction and multitasking to foster creativity and learning.

• Howard Rheingold emphasizes the need for mindfulness in attention and explains how technologies like computer games can enhance learning and attention.

• They advocate for a shift in educational and work environments to incorporate more flexible and collaborative approaches to learning and productivity.