Multitasking in class- beware!

Hey everyone!

My name is Bijal and I’m a coach in the AAC. I’m a junior and a biology major. When taking classes that I’m not too interested in, I find myself texting, facebooking, and daydreaming while taking notes. And I’m not the only one. It’s undeniable that multitasking in class is prevalent across campus. At the beginning of every semester, I have to fight off the temptation to multitask in class. Luckily, it’s still the beginning of the semester and it’s a great time to break your bad habits in class.

It may seem hard to give up texting and surfing the internet in class. After all, we grew up with technology surrounding us. I started using e-mail and AIM in middle school, went through the blogging-myspace-facebook phases in high school, and now I’m a text freak. I text when I’m walking to class, watching TV, even when I’m talking to another friend. Multitasking is a part of my life, and probably a part of yours. But it’s a different story in class.

A study by Dux et al. (2006) explains that the brain tricks us into thinking we are doing multiple things at once, when we are really not. While texting a friend and listening to the professor in class, your brain constantly flips back and forth between the two. It’s impossible to do both at the same time. When you get a text and write one back, your mind stops paying attention to the professor. You may think you are awesome at playing tetris while paying attention in class, but hearing half of a lecture doesn’t really count as learning, does it? Multitasking also messes with your memory. When you are distracted in class, there is a higher chance that you will have difficulty recalling what you learned and applying that information to questions on homework or exams.
(Dux et al. 2006-http://www.psy.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/marois/Publications/Dux_et_al-2006.pdf)

You don’t have to believe what I’m saying, especially because I don’t know much about psychology or neuroscience. But trust your own experience. I know that if I’m not paying attention in a class, it is a lot harder for me to study and remember that information. Think back to a class last week in which you were multitasking (texting, playing games, on facebook, etc), how well do you remember what was taught in that class?

Another consequence of multitasking is stress. When you do not focus in class, you have to spend more time outside of class digesting the information. Studying all new information before an exam can be exhausting, and stress quickly builds up. Take it from the researchers who wrote this, “When people are constantly interrupted, they develop a mode of working faster…Yet working faster with interruptions has its cost: people in the interrupted conditions experienced a higher workload, more stress, higher frustration, more time pressure, and effort” (Mark, Gudith, and Klocke 2008). When you are actually familiar with the material, studying can be less stressful and quicker. Since a lot of us procrastinate, the simple act of paying attention in class can be a lifesaver.
(Mark, Gudith, and Klocke 2008- http://www.ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf)

Now that you know the basic dangers of multitasking in class, here are some ways to avoid it:
1. Turn off your phone. No, not just on silence. Actually turn it off!
2. Be aware that you are in class. Class is for learning. Do not let yourself zone out, daydream, or start texting. You can do this by sitting in front of the class. You can also stay alert by asking questions in class, which has multiple benefits.
3. Read for the lecture beforehand, so you have an idea of what’s going on. I usually stop paying attention in class when I have no idea what the professor is talking about.
4. Take notes. Have a pencil or pen in your hand and paper in front of you. This will keep you focused on what the professor is saying, and hey, you’ll actually have some notes to look at later.
4. Sit far from people that will likely distract you. Lots of students are texting, on facebook, shopping online, etc. and they are very likely to catch your attention. Sit next to those in class who are taking notes and paying attention, because most likely you will do that too. Remember that if you are browsing through the internet, you are probably annoying other students!
5. Stay motivated by remembering that paying attention in class is worth it! You will save time studying outside of class and be less stressed.

I once heard a story where students texting in class drove the professor to start texting while he was lecturing. Wouldn’t you be a little mad if your professor took out his/her cell phone in class and started texting? Your learning would be compromised. Remember that if you pull out your cell phone and text, it’s the same thing but reversed. Instead of the professor distracting you, you are distracting yourself.

If you want more information or advice, come to the AAC in the CUE building and talk to a coach!