Overstimulation in the classroom is a pervasive problem that affects not only students but also teachers and administrators. The constant bombardment of information from technology, social media, and other sources can lead to decreased attention spans, reduced productivity, and compromised mental well-being. In today’s digital age, where technology is an integral part of daily life, the issue has become alarming.

According to a Pew Research Center study, 72% of teenagers and 58% of adults feel the need to respond to notifications immediately. The same research shows that overstimulation can significantly impair cognitive function, memory, and learning outcomes in students. 

Enter Focusable, an app designed to help educators and students combat the effects of overstimulation. I spoke with Sara Candela, a former educator, and Arlen Bitsky, a community manager, who are both experts in educational technology. They discussed how Focusable’s features help users focus on one task at a time, eliminate distractions, and ultimately improve productivity and mental well-being. They discussed how Focusable’s features help users focus on one task at a time and eliminate distractions. The app also prompts users to take 12-minute “mindful rest” breaks throughout the day. Deep, extended reading activities are also an important feature of Focusable. All this can lead to significant improvements in productivity and mental wellness. Sara Candela and Arlen Bitsky support this idea, stating that even 12 minutes per day of mindful rest can be beneficial.

In today’s episode of the Flipboard EDU podcast, we speak to Arlen and Sara about Focusable, how to use it in the classroom to create classroom communities around building focus skills and encourage reflection and meta awareness.

—William Jeffery is curating Flipboard EDU Podcast

William “Coach” Jeffery is an award-winning digital learning educator and principal at Columbia High School in Texas. His tech pedagogy continues to drive him to curate educational content on Flipboard that highlights teaching strategies, edtech, and ways to improve student success. He hosts the “Flipboard EDU Podcast” as yet another way to share resources with peers.