Attention is a strong indicator of a student’s success in the classroom and likelihood of completing college. Research also indicates that reading and math outcomes correlate with attention scores. Those children with a limited ability to pay attention struggle academically (and anecdotally, socially) over time even with tutoring and other interventions. 

Addressing a Lack of Attention

Eleven percent of school-age children have attention challenges and the number is growing. In schools where more than 50% of children are on free and reduced lunch, that number can be twice as high. Imagine trying to teach a class when 3-6 of your 30 students have significant attention challenges.

Teachers know intuitively that attention matters to student success, in part, because they are a lot easier to teach. A classroom of students paying attention is wonder to behold. And while a teacher’s skill in classroom management is important in keeping students engaged, there is only so much they can do when there are a significant portion of students with attention challenges. They end up spending more time on classroom management than teaching.

Schools can improve academic outcomes for students and make the teaching experience better by finding ways to increase attention skills. 

Attention Training & Assessment 

BrainLeap’s Attention Training games help students overcome attention challenges and allow teachers to spend more time teaching. The gaze-driven video games leverage the connection between the eye movement system and the attention system. They gradually shape behavior using visual and auditory feedback provided in real-time. The games are designed to improve the speed, accuracy, and control of attention.

Because kids get better at video games just from playing, it is important to show transfer — the ability to apply the skills gained in the games to tasks outside of the games. That is why we include attention assessments in the game suite. These are objective measures of attention that can show the measurable improvements students are making from playing the games.

Once schools reopen, they can provide attention training to students in the academic environment. The two models schools currently use are: (1) The computer is set up in the classroom and is used as a station. (2) Students are pulled out of the classroom and come to a separate room to train at a set time each day. Whichever approach is used, it is important that students train regularly to maximize the benefit.

To date, a major challenge in training attention was the need for regular practice. For example, it is hard (and expensive) for a child to visit a therapist frequently enough to see significant results. Our games are designed for use at home or in school which makes regular training easy.