Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Selective Attention
I hate to admit it, but I think many students can relate to me when I say that I've had selective attention during class. For the most part I make sure I pay very close attention when the professor is lecturing, but the one class/subject that I have trouble doing that in is biology/science. I think the reason this happens to me in science classes is because all of the scientific terminology makes it feel like learning a different language. So when the every other word has something to do with ions and neurotransmitters and hemoglobin, it's hard to pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Last week I had an easier time paying attention because the professor was talking about what happens to the body during exercise and the effect of various foods on the body. Since I workout a lot, I had a better understanding of what she was teaching us, and the information was more practical for my everyday life. This could possibly be overcome by reading a few of the basic definitions of key terms before class, but even when I do that, there's only so much time to try to absorb all these new and complex terms.
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I laughed when I read your blog because just today, I had a similar experience. We were going over a midterm review in class, and I realized that the answers to the questions I need to concentrate on because I don’t have a grasp of the material yet have to do with numbers or history, neither of which I’ve ever liked. Mathematics has always seemed like a different language to me, and history, when it comes to dates, is just so boring to me. Since I don’t like mathematics or history, I have selective attention in class and tune out when those subjects are being discussed. Because of this, I’m now struggling with learning the answers that have to do with numbers and history. Like your interest when the professor is talking about the relation food and exercise to the body, I have no problem tuning in and remembering anything to do with people’s behavior, because I’ve always been interested in psychology.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of how selective attention can play in a classroom setting. There are different classes that I do find more interesting than others. Just like you I cant handle science classes because the terminology for it is just too rough for my brain. On the other hand, kinesiology, like you is easy to understand because I have an interest in the topic. There are a lot of other factors that can play in selective attention such as being tired or sleepy during one of these conversations. That would definitely make paying attention a lot harder. Even when I really try to focus, but I am just out of it, It would be impossible for me.
ReplyDeleteI see that you have selective attention toward the class only because you did not want to frustrate yourself with things you did not understand. I think that is totally understandable and your idea on how to avoid it is a perfect way of fixing your problem. Your motivation to learn in the class could rise as well as long as you are on top of the subject and continue to apply the information to your daily workout routines. This was not a bad post I feel as if you were 100% spot on about the concept application on the topic of selective listening.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem when I am in class with excess terminology. I think it may be because when you don't know htings, they are easy to filter out. Kind of like we have a file folder of information that we tap into when we learn new things in an effort to learn it be relating it to previous knowledge. When there is no file folder in a particular subject set, I just check out. It helps me understand why there are prerequisites for so many classes. If you don't take the basic class, yo will miss too much information from not having the previous file folder to tap into. I think it's funny that you get so many comments on your posts. I always check yours first because you always do them early in the week like I do. It's a sure thing that I can find a recent post on your board. Thanks for keeping my life easier and keep up the good posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Burgs,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post about selective attention. I can relate to you when it comes to selective attention in class. I as well will pay attention during lectures, but do find myself getting distracted in classes that I’m not a big fan of. I will admit that in my humanities class, I did have selective attention while my teacher was talking to us. I think it had to do with the way she talked and presented the information that made it hard to listen to. If my teacher was more upbeat, or trying to get the students engaged more, then it would be easier to listen and not have selective attention. I will admit thought, that I was not the only student how had selective attention, it did seem like everyone in that class except a handful of kids actually fully listened. Great post.
Hi Burgs, I thought your response to this week was great. I can relate to a lot of what you had to say. One of the things I agreed with that you mentioned in your response was having selective attention during class. Last semester I had a course at San Jose State University. It was a night course that I would go to after work. Being that it was at the end of the day and I was tired I realized that I would display selective attention. I would try to pay attention to the parts of the lecture that I felt were the most important but I would zone off during parts I felt weren’t too important. I enjoyed reading your response. Great job!
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