Why Multitasking Is Bad For Students.Multitasking, or doing two or more things at once, is something we do every day. An example is having a conversation with your parents over breakfast. There’s nothing wrong with that because it’s easy for your brain to handle these tasks, but multitasking becomes a problem when one task interferes with another. You can talk over breakfast, for example, but not text at the same time because it slows your concentration.
Multitasking can be bad to students for several reasons.Why Multitasking Is Bad For Students
Here are some of the main ones:
- Decreased productivity: When students try to do several things at once, they may end up taking longer to complete each task, and their overall productivity may suffer.
- Reduced learning and retention: When students are multitasking, they are not fully focused on any one thing. This can lead to decreased understanding and retention of the material they are studying.
- Increased stress and anxiety: Trying to juggle several tasks at once can be stressful and overwhelming for students, leading to increased levels of anxiety and difficulty managing their workload.
- Decreased creativity: Multitasking can also impede creativity, as students may not have the mental space to think creatively when they are constantly switching between tasks.
- Increased risk of errors: When students are multitasking, they are more likely to make mistakes, which can lead to a lower quality of work and a poorer academic performance.
In short, multitasking is often counterproductive for students. It is better for them to focus on one task at a time and give it their full attention, rather than trying to juggle several things at once.
Virtual students are especially prone to multitasking because they are surrounded by digital distractions. When students attempt to multitask while studying, they often fail inadvertently. Psychology professor David Meyer says: “Under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time.
Negative effects of “multitasking”
Research shows that multitasking has several negative effects on learning. Multitasking can:
- Weaken control over the information you learn.
- It reduces your memory of the tasks performed.
- It causes the main task to take more time.
- It affects a student’s performance.
Study tips and learning alternatives for “multitasking”
1- Set limits
The first step is to decide when multitasking is okay and when it’s not. For example, they should avoid multitasking during classes, dinner, conversations, group activities, etc.
2- Adjust everything through scheduling
They can develop their scheduling skills by deciding how to prioritize tasks based on their importance.
3- Take frequent breaks
Instead of jumping from one task to another, they can schedule blocks of time for lessons at regular intervals in between. For example, they could spend 45 minutes on their math homework and then take a 15-minute break. Short breaks allow their brains to rest and give them a chance to multitask on something that is not related to school.
4- Get rid of digital distractions
Making phones and other digital devices off limits during classes goes a long way. But this way, they won’t be distracted by incoming text messages or social media notifications.
5- Organize your study areas
In addition to removing digital devices, remove all other distractions from your workspace. Clearing up clutter, removing unnecessary items, and keeping everything in place in order can help them stay focused on their work.
6- Find ways to stay focused
It is not always easy to concentrate on a single task, so you can learn different tricks to stay focused. Taking notes while reading or listening to a lesson is one way to improve focus and retention of learning. Another technique is changing jobs, or finding another place to work where there are fewer distractions.
7- Just relax
Sometimes students are so busy that they feel the need to multitask. But what students really need to do when they feel stressed is relax. By relaxing, students can regain the focus they need to do one task at a time, plus they will perform better and faster.
