How to Improve Our Attention Span for Better Learning – with André Hedlund

How to Improve Our Attention Span for Better Learning – with André Hedlund

Author: TESOL Pop January 2, 2025 Duration: 12:37

Founder of the Learning Cosmos André Hedlund explores the growing challenges of maintaining attention spans in the age of digital distractions. André dives into the impact of screen time, the role of executive functions in learning, and how going back to basics can foster focus and resilience in our classrooms.


Watch the episode with closed captions.


TALKING POINTS

  1. Digital Overload: how delegating human interaction to devices has contributed to declining IQ levels for the first time and why educators must rethink the role of technology in teaching.
  2. Executive Functions: the importance of training the brain's "operational control centre'‘ through situations that challenge students' impulse control, emotional regulation, and focus.
  3. The Dopamine Dilemma: the neuroscience behind dopamine and how to find healthier ways to engage students without relying on instant gratification.
  4. Back to Basics: how traditional methods that prioritise interaction, exploration, and meaningful experiences can overthrow digital dependence.


ABOUT

André Hedlund is a Chevening (pronounced as evening) Alumnus, MSc Psychology of Education - University of Bristol, Educational Consultant, Speaker, Author, and Guest Lecturer on Bilingualism and Cognition in Postgraduate courses. He currently works as an e-moderator in British Council training programs. André is the leader of BRAZ-TESOL’s Mind, Brain, and Education SIG and the founder of the Learning Cosmos.


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CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Thanks to our lovely guest, André Hedlund

Production by Communicating for Impact


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
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