It's definite the way we think and pay attention has changed. This infographic shares what affects the attention span of adult learners and how thoughtful course design can be a powerful tool in meeting the needs of how today’s learners focus best.

1. PAY
ATTENTION!
PAY
ATTENTION!ADULT LEARNERS NEED
ENGAGING COURSE
DESIGN

2. For the past few years, researchers have said that
human adult attention spans have dropped from
That’s an attention span supposedly smaller than that of a goldfish!
12 to 8 seconds

3. Others say that while an adult’s
attention span actually lasts around
20 minutes, their attention has to be
captured within 8 seconds.
capture their attention attention span
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4. EITHER WAY,
IT’S CLEAR THAT TECHNOLOGY
HAS CHANGED THE WAY OUR
BRAINS PROCESS INFORMATION.

5. ADULTS NOW TEND TO...
multitask and multiscreen
frontload with high bursts
of immediate attention
have lower tolerance
for tedious or boring
content

6. This is problematic since
many tasks require
long-term, sustained
attention—especially in
the workplace.
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7. WHAT AFFECTS TENDENCY TO PAY
ATTENTION IN THE WORKPLACE?
Length of time
worker is expected
to be engaged
Level of interest
in the task
Technology
dependency and
addiction
2015 study shows
that 45% of workers
are bored at work
Facebook, phone, etc;
34% of workers use
Facebook at work for
non-work purposes

8. WHAT HELPS ADULTS PAY
ATTENTION IN THE WORKPLACE?
Take a 15 minute break
every 2 hours
Practice mindfulness
and meditate
Listen to music
you love
Limit distractions Make a list of your
tasks in order of
priority

9. HOW COURSE
DESIGN CAN
ADDRESS CHANGES
IN HOW ADULTS
PAY ATTENTION:

10. Microlearning
(break it down)
Variety in
activities
(switch/add
stimuli)
Use a storytelling
narrative
(increases interest)
Job aids and resource
libraries
(at-need, on-the-job learning
rather than compulsory,
irrelevant, dense content)
Put something
compelling in the
first 8 seconds
(to grab attention)
De-clutter
your course
(delete extra
graphics, audio,
text, etc.)

11. SOURCES:
https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/best-practices--content-marketing/2016/the-great-gol
dfish-attention-span-myth--and-why-its-killing-cont
https://www.eleapsoftware.com/the-key-to-overcoming-minuscule-attention-spans-when-training-employees/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/opinion/the-eight-second-attention-span.html
http://www.forumevents.com/press-releases/195/Attention-Span-in-The-Work-Place
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/millennials-short-attention-spans-workplace
http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/06/22/social-media-and-the-workplace/
https://getvoip.com/blog/2015/11/09/survey-americans-are-bored-at-their-jobs/
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2008914,00.html
https://elearningindustry.com/key-tips-working-short-attention-spans
http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/30-tricks-for-capturing-students-attention/

12. VIEW AS AN INFOGRAPHIC
LOOKING FOR MORE STRATEGIES ON HOW
TO KEEP ADULT LEARNERS ENGAGED
THROUGHOUT TRAINING?
CLICK TO GET STARTED.