top of page


As attention spans get shorter, so does the SAT -- and soon the ACT
The SAT, and soon the ACT, are changing to cater to students with short attention spans.

Joanne Jacobs
20 hours ago2 min read
0 comments


Ritalin or recess: Why are so many kids on ADHD meds?
Is ADHD a medical disorder best treated with drugs?

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 203 min read
0 comments


TV is great for kids -- compared to iPads, says 'Anxious Generation' author
Digital addiction is destroying kids' ability to pay attention, says Jon Haidt.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 52 min read
1 comment


Devices are distractions: Take the tablets away
Internet-connected devices are distracting students -- not helping them learn.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 252 min read
1 comment


Keep it simple: Attention must be paid
How do teachers get the attention of easily distracted "digital natives?"

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 22 min read
0 comments


Too much tech: Devices distract students, don't support learning
Schools are wasting time and money on ed-tech that doesn't improve learning and distracts students.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 21, 20242 min read
3 comments


Go out and play: Preschools try to kick the screen habit
Young children are spending more time indoors looking at screens, less time in nature , writes Karen D'Souza on EdSource. “Outdoor...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 20, 20242 min read
0 comments


Georgetown students 'have trouble staying focused on even a sonnet'
Even elite colleges don't read very much and have trouble staying focused on books.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 2, 20242 min read
5 comments


Covid stress hurt memory, 'flexible thinking' for kids and teachers, says study
Students -- and teachers -- lost reasoning, memory and executive-function skills during the pandemic. Stress? Long Covid? Screens?

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 21, 20241 min read
0 comments


Present and paying attention: Smartphone detox is worth it
Smartphone detox is difficult, but worth it, writes Seth Lavin, principal of a Chicago middle school. After his school equipped...

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 14, 20242 min read
2 comments
bottom of page