the educator mag Jan 26 - Flipbook - Page 57
Teaching the TikTok generation:
Why attention is the 'NEW' literacy
The students entering our classrooms
today are a generation unlike any other.
Growing up in an online world designed
for instant feedback, rapid-fire information
and endlessly personalised content, these
are the TikTok generation. Capable of deep,
sustained focus when truly engaged, but
equally as likely to switch off when the work
is not relevant or seen as rewarding.
As we look ahead to BETT 2026, it’s time
for the conversation about technology in
education to evolve. It’s no longer about
‘should technology be in schools?’ It’s about
how it can be used to work WITH the way
young people now think, behave and learn.
Already, many teachers will be working with
students who have an attention span
conditioned by digital habits: fast
engagement, low tolerance for ambiguity,
and a strong performance mindset
developed in an online world of likes,
shares and comparison.
And while this sounds like a big ask, many
of the most effective strategies are actually
easy to embed into classroom practice:
This does not mean students today can no
longer concentrate. It means they need
different entry points into learning.
Technology can support that if used
intentionally, providing the immediacy and
responsiveness students are used to.
Adaptive tools, fast feedback platforms and
personalised learning journeys can help
students build confidence and momentum
before tackling more demanding tasks.
But the biggest opportunity is in teaching
students to manage their own attention.
• Use low-stakes starters to help students
start tasks
I’m in classrooms most days and see every
day that once students understand how
their mind works, their triggers, distractions
and pressure points, they approach learning
with far greater resilience. What they need
is an‘attention curriculum’: short, practical
habits that help them regulate overwhelm,
start tasks more easily and stay focused for
longer.
• Teach in micro-bursts to align with
natural attention rhythms
• Give rapid feedback using tech tools
• Make thinking visible to reduce
cognitive load
• Teach short reset routines (eg: simple
six second pause)
The TikTok generation is not harder to teach,
they are simply wired differently. If we adapt
our methods and embrace technology as a
tool for attention, not a distraction, students
can become more confident, independent
and motivated learners. This is not about
‘beating TikTok at its own game’. It is about
understanding the world that is shaping our
young people, and equipping them with the
mindset to thrive in it.
For more information visit
https://myperformancelearning.com
