The Science of Attention, Willpower, and Decision Making

A number of myths persist about people’s allegedly ever-shortening attention spans—but what does the science say? Neuroscience, behavioral economics, and consumer psychology all offer insights into how we manage and allocate attention. Additionally, our ability to manage attention and focus seems to be related to our ability to allocate willpower and make decisions.

In this session, you will learn what the current science says about how attention, willpower, and decision making interact, and how that should influence the design of eLearning environments. Having a deeper understanding of this topic will help you create more engaging and effective learning solutions.

In this session, you will learn:

• How cognitive load and glucose usage influence willpower
• How we allocate and manage attention
• How to engage learners’ attention and manage distraction
• How to use the principles of willpower, attention, and decision making to create better eLearning

Audience:
Intermediate and advanced designers and managers.

Handout(s)

Recording

January 21, 2016