How many times have you checked email or looked at social media today? How many tabs are open on your computer or tablet right now? Now raise your hand if you feel called out by these questions… yeah, I did too when I listened to Amy Porterfield’s podcast episode all about context switching.
Here, I’m taking the business related ideas she shared and applying them to our teaching practices…
What is context switching?
Context switching is a type of multitasking that can severely affect mental performance and productivity. Basically, a context switch = moving from one application to another.
For example, when writing this podcast episode, I needed to open my Google drive to write my script. When I got into my drive, I saw my template for creating titles and decided to look over that format for a good title. Then, I popped on my Apple Podcast to rewind the episode from Amy Porterfiled that inspired this topic. After all that “popping around”, my brain was tired and I put off writing this script for another day.
Instead of sitting down and writing my thoughts on a piece of paper without distractions, my brain power was pulled in multiple directions meaning my energy was drained faster than if I had just sat down and made a list of talking points.
You could argue positive results of context switching, especially if your brain naturally tends to jump steps in a process….. Hello gifted brains! But for the most part, multitasking has more negative results than positive because you’re not fully focused on the task at hand. This means one task never gets the full creation process… just parts of it. Like only getting part of your amazon order and having to wait days for the rest.
Understand the Cognitive Cost of Context Switching
Think about how many times a day you are frustrated because students (or even your personal children) aren’t completing an assignment in a timely manner. For me, my frustration levels are higher in the afternoon and evening. But, that’s not surprising because my mental focus and energy are drained.
The same is true for children.
In fact, I would argue that because their brains are still developing, they lose energy and focus faster than an adult brain. This is why context switching is a problem. Context switching requires a shift of focus and attention from one task to another… as well as the understanding the context, or application, of your task.
Not only is the brain processing how to complete the task, it’s also trying to figure out how the application works and what steps need to be taken.
Quoting Amy’s podcast episode (which will be linked in the show notes) “Adults spend about 2 seconds adjusting their brains to a new application… and tend to switch applications 12,000 times within a day. This means adults waste 4 hours per week adjusting from one app to another… and that’s just adults… imagine how this affects children’s developing brains.
This mental effort can cost up to 40% of total productive time. This leaves only 60% or less for actually completing tasks. In terms of learning and developing, this means our students are wasting valuable brain energy just trying to understand what they are doing and how it should be done.
So, what do we do?
First, identify sources of context switching. Common sources include notifications, multiple open tabs or windows on a computer, or even being required to multitask. But, this doesn’t just apply to technology. This can include hands-on tasks or activities.
In the classroom, this could look like asking students to research a topic, create a piece of writing, and then play a review game in one lesson. While each of these tasks are skills they need to learn or practice, having them complete this activity in a narrow timeframe (ie- one day) is not only unrealistic but also frustrating.
Or, it could be asking students what they want for lunch while they are working on challenging math problems. Either situation requires the brain to move from one context to another.
Be Careful About Multitasking
One of the biggest mistakes people make is believing that multitasking can help them complete tasks faster. In reality, context switching can often slow down productivity and lead to decreased mental performance. Consider which task requires full brain power and identify the best moments for focusing on simpler tasks that don’t require as much brain power.
For example, have students research their topic one day using one website and an organizer with boxes for three facts. They can’t add more or less and they can’t venture out of the assigned site. Set a timer for them to work for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, they close the computer and chat with a friend about what they wrote on the paper.
Other Ways to Tackle Context Switching
Have a base application that students can use for most everything… I love Google Classroom. Although not everyone is a Google District, I lean toward Google Classroom because students can work and collaborate in the class; you can assign multiple types of activities that work right in the platform (like YouTube activities); and, you’re able to grade and give feedback in one place. Everything is saved to the Drive so students don’t waste time hunting down their files and you don’t waste time hunting down missing assignments.
In Amy’s podcast, she suggested planning out time… Which I’ve modified to be a tech time plan.
- Theme days (brainstorm day; writing day; production day)
- “Check in” hours (set times to check emails or review comments in GC/ projects)
- Simplify tools (have students vote on their favorite platforms for various purposes. Games? Content? Collaboration? What do your students like best and feel most confident using?
- Timers for specific applications (20 minutes Document ONLY)
- Limit tabs if you have a monitoring program (netref)
What is your biggest take away about context switching?
I would love to know! send me a DM on Instagram telling me your biggest take away or thing you want to change.
Listen to Amy Porterfiled’s full podcast episode: Link to amy porterfield podcast
You can learn more about context switching at: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/context-switching
