School Daze: Eye-Tracking Study Reveals What Earns Student Attention in Classroom

KENNESAW, Ga. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tobii Technology, the global leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction, today unveiled the findings of a new research study using Tobii Glasses by Kennesaw State University associate professor of physics education David Rosengrant. By revealing the attention patterns of students in the classroom, the study provides new insight into effective teaching techniques that aim to keep students engaged and motivated to learn during lectures.

“I hope that this study enlightens the education community about how to engage students effectively in the classroom, maximize student focus on the material and, ultimately, increase their achievement”

“Until now, there has been no first-hand, innate measurement of student attention from the student’s perspective in the classroom,” said Rosengrant. “We were able to measure what the students observe during a lecture, how much of their time is dedicated to the material presented in class and, as an instructor, what are the greatest inhibitors to keeping their attention.”

Rosengrant’s four-month pilot study observed eight college students during 70-minute pre-elementary education lectures at Kennesaw State University. Conducted using Tobii Glasses, a portable, wearable eye-tracking device that allows for unobtrusive eye tracking for research in real-world environments, the study contradicts the widely accepted belief that classroom attention peaks during the first 15 minutes of class and then generally tapers off. Instead, Rosengrant discovered that classroom attention is not as linear as previously thought and is actually impacted by various factors throughout the duration of the lecture.

These factors include the verbal presentation of new material that is not contained within the instructor’s PowerPoint, the use of humor by the instructor and the proximity of the instructor to the student, which all contribute to greater attention from the student. Rosengrant’s study also concluded that “digital distractions” such as mobile phones and the Web, particularly Facebook, are the greatest inhibitors to retaining students’ attention in the classroom. From these insights, Rosengrant stresses the need for professors to alter their lecture structure through the injection of varying activities and the use of humor to engage students.

“David’s study is yet another example of the valuable insights that can be unveiled through the application and analysis of eye-tracking studies in the field, especially in regard to teaching,” said Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii North America. “The insights collected from the gaze patterns in this study can radically alter the landscape of the education profession and allow instructors to apply much more efficient communication techniques that can have a profound positive impact on student success.”

Rosengrant will publish the full study, “Studying Student Attention via Eye Tracking” in the fall and will continue to expand his research in order to generate insights that can impact the future of classroom instruction and ultimately, students’ success and the field of teaching.

“I hope that this study enlightens the education community about how to engage students effectively in the classroom, maximize student focus on the material and, ultimately, increase their achievement,” added Rosengrant.

About Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering 80 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business and nursing and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of 24,100 from 130 countries.

About Tobii Technology

Tobii Technology is the global market leader in eye tracking and eye control. The company’s products are widely used within the scientific community and in commercial market research and usability studies, as well as by people with disabilities as a means to communicate. Tobii also drives innovation of eye-tracking technology in many other areas, offering OEM components for integration into various industry applications, such as for use in hospitals, engineering, sports and entertainment. Founded in 2001, the company has received numerous awards for its technology innovations and its rapid financial growth. Tobii is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in the U.S., Germany, Norway, Japan and China. More information: www.tobii.com