STUDENT ATTENTION SPAN IN THE UNIVERSITY CLASSROOM: DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS, TEACHING METHODS, AND MOTIVATION

This literature survey examines various factors influencing the attention of college students, including digital distractions, teaching methods, and student motivation. Studies show that attention is not a fixed entity but instead varies depending on the learning type and the individual characteristics of a person and the environment. For instance, engaging in non-educational activities on smartphones can have a negative effect on one's attention and memory. On the other hand, the use of interactive methods of instruction may increase the amount of participation in the learning process. Based on these facts, the survey points out that the application of both technology and different kinds of teaching methods needs to be balanced for the effective use of time in university classrooms.