Reading Road Trip S4 E9: Attention, Memory and Learning with Blake Harvard
Aug 25, 2025
Blake Harvard, an AP psychology teacher from Alabama and author of "Do I Have Your Attention?", discusses the intricate relationship between attention and memory. He reveals why multitasking hampers learning and offers practical strategies like retrieval practice and spaced learning to boost memory retention. The conversation delves into how preparing with retrieval can alleviate test anxiety and suggests innovative ways to enhance multiple-choice assessments, emphasizing the importance of effective educational strategies for maximizing student engagement.
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Seat Students Based On The Task
- Match seating arrangement to the lesson goal: rows for input, groups for collaboration.
- Let task purpose drive seating instead of defaulting to one layout.
Multitasking Is Task Switching
- Multitasking is usually task switching because conscious tasks compete for attention.
- Task switching increases time, errors, and reduces memory for the tasks.
Show Costs Of Task Switching
- Demonstrate task-switching costs with a timed alternation activity to show inefficiency.
- Encourage students to focus on one task then the next rather than rapid switching.
