The Brain Needs a Break

The best instructional design consultants understand how to make their programs more effective by taking into account how the brain works. They think about how difficult it can be to maintain the attention of program participants.

Have you ever tried to focus in on one single thought for more than 10 seconds without being distracted? Unless you have had special training, it is near impossible to keep other thoughts from intruding. Researchers have found that your neurons quickly exhaust their source of energy and look elsewhere for fuel. If they don’t find it, they tire and other more energetic neurons command your attention.

Physiologically, we all suffer from a certain degree of attention deficit.

So how does this affect instructional design? Designers need to recognize that program participants’ attention will wander. They need to change the pace, shift the tasks and provide breaks. These are the ways to combat mental fatigue and keep participants learning. 

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