Reading and Multi-tasking

David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan who has studied the effects of divided attention on learning, has determined: “Under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. The brain can multitask only when you are doing two things that are both very simple and that don’t use the same part of the brain. A good example would be folding laundry and listening to the radio.

But listening to a lecture while texting, or doing homework and being on Facebook [or Instagram, Snapchat, etc.]— each of these tasks is very demanding, and each of them uses the same area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex.”

When students multitask while doing schoolwork, they understand and remember less, and they have greater difficulty transferring their learning to new contexts. The assignment takes longer to complete because of the time spent on distracting activities and because, when you come back to the assignment, you have to re-familiarize yourself with the material. The mental tiredness caused by repeatedly dropping and picking up a mental thread leads to more mistakes.

Need proof?

College students in a general psychology course were asked to read a 3,828 word passage on a computer. The students who used instant messaging while they were reading took up to 59% longer to read the passage than students who didn’t and that was after the time spent instant messaging was subtracted from the reading times! So if you have one hour’s worth of homework, it will take you almost two hours to complete it, and you will probably make lots of mistakes! That’s crazy!!! Think of what you could do with that extra hour! Bowman, L. L., Levine, L. E., Waite, B. M. and Dendron, M. (2010). Can students really multitask? An experimental study of instant messaging while reading. Computers & Education, 54,

And what about this…

Multitasking is significantly related to lower GPA and to an increase in risk behaviors including use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Barak, L. (2012). Multitasking in the university classroom. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 6 (2)

And those headphones you like to use??

“My music helps me concentrate!” you swear.

Think again…

Smith and Morris found that participants performed better on a cognitive processing test while listening to no music than they did while listening to either stimulating or sedative music. They determined that performance is impaired with music and significantly improved with no music. Smith and Morris theorized the poor performance was due to participants’ attention being divided between thinking about the task and thinking about the lyrics, emotions, and memories that familiar music evokes. Smith, C.A., & Morris, L. W. (1977). Differential effects of stimulative and sedative music anxiety, concentration, and performance. Psychological Reports, 41,

Dolegui (2013) also found that cognitive performance was affected when listening to music. The results of her study led her to conclude:  “students should not listen to any music or allow any auditory disturbance while studying to obtain maximum performance level.  students should strive to study and learn in an environment such as the library or a private study room that is as quiet as possible, especially when the material requires higher cognitive processing.  silence seems to be the best environment to maximize performance when engaging in cognitive activity.  classical music was not shown to enhance performance contrary to the study’s expectations. Hence, the direct benefits of listening to music on cognitive processing could be more of a fantasy than a reality." Dolegui, A.S. (2013). The impact of listening to music on cognitive performance. Student Pulse, 5(09).

Is multimedia multitasking leading to an increase in ADD? People with attention deficit spread their attention over an inappropriately large span of stimuli, whereas non-attention-deficit people focus. So when you engage in multiple media and multitasking, you are training yourself to spread your attention over way too much stimulation. You’re turning yourself into a person with ADD.

Make sure when you’re READING or doing any schoolwork, the cellphones are silent, the video screens are dark, and your music source is off.

Sound too hard? NO WORRIES! I’ve got the solution!

It’s called the Pomodoro Technique!

How it works:

THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE

1. Choose a task to be accomplished. 2. Set a kitchen timer for 25 minutes and set aside all those things that distract you. 3. Work on the task until the timer rings.(IF YOU KEPT YOUR MIND ON YOUR TASK THE WHOLE TIME). 4. Set a timer for a 5 minute break. Get up from your seat, and do something. Physical activity is great! 5. Repeat steps Every 4 pomodoros, set a timer and take a longer break (15 – 30 minutes). Then take on your next pomodoro.

Reading, REALLY READING, requires your WHOLE BRAIN! Do yourself a favor. Don’t split it up.

Barak, L. (2012). Multitasking in the university classroom. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 6 (2) Bowman, L. L., Levine, L. E., Waite, B. M. and Dendron, M. (2010). Can students really multitask? An experimental study of instant messaging while reading. Computers & Education, 54, Dolegui, A. S. (2013). "The Impact of Listening to Music on Cognitive Performance." Student Pulse, 5(09). Smith, C.A., & Morris, L. W. (1977). Differential effects of stimulative and sedative music anxiety, concentration, and performance. Psychological Reports, 41, Sources