Learning Course
- Lesson One - Pre-readingThe Power of Prereading - Part One
- The Power of Prereading - Part Two
- The Power of Prereading - Part Three
- The Power of Prereading - Part Four
- The Power of Prereading - Part Five
- Lesson Two - Single TaskingSingle Tasking - Part One
- Single Tasking - Part Two
- Single Tasking - Part Three
- Single Tasking - Part Four
- Single Tasking - Part Five
- Lesson Three - Recognition and RecallRecognition and Recall - Part One
- Recognition and Recall - Part Two
- Recognition and Recall - Part Three
- Recognition and Recall - Part Four
- Recognition and Recall - Part Five
- Lesson Four - Question LoggingQuestion Logging - Part One
- Question Logging - Part Two
- Question Logging - Part Three
- Question Logging - Part Five
- Question Logging - Part Four
- Lesson Five - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson Six - Taking NotesTaking Notes - Part One
- Taking Notes - Part Two
- Taking Notes - Part Three
- Lesson Seven - Foundational LearningFoundational Learning - Part One
- Foundational Learning - Part Two
- Foundational Learning - Part Three
- Foundational Learning - Part Four
- Foundational Learning - Part Five
- Lesson eight - Deep LearningDeep Learning - Part One
- Deep Learning - Part Two
- Deep Learning - Part Three
- Deep Learning - Part Four
- Deep Learning - Part Five
- Lesson nine - High Yield LearningHigh Yield Learning - Part One
- High Yield Learning - Part Two
- High Yield Learning - Part Three
- High Yield Learning - Part Four
- High Yield Learning - Part Five
- Lesson ten - The Testing EffectThe Testing Effect - Part One
- The Testing Effect - Part Two
- The Testing Effect - Part Three
- The Testing Effect - Part Four
- The Testing Effect - Part Five
- Lesson eleven - active and passive learningActive and Passive Learning - Part One
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Two
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Three
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Four
- Active and Passive Learning - Part Five
- Lesson twelve - Study BlockingStudy Blocking - Part One
- Study Blocking - Part Two
- Study Blocking - Part Three
- Study Blocking - Part Four
- Study Blocking - Part Five
- Lesson thirteen - LinkingLinking - Part One
- Linking - Part Two
- Linking - Part Three
- Linking - Part Four
- Linking - Part Five
- Lesson fourteen - InterleavingInterleaving - Part One
- Interleaving - Part Two
- Interleaving - Part Three
- Interleaving - Part Four
- Interleaving - Part Five
- Lessons fifteen - Application QuestioningApplication Questioning - Part One
- Application Questioning - Part Two
- Copy of Application Questioning - Part Three
- Application Questioning - Part Four
- Application Questioning - Part Five
- Lesson Sixteen - Using TablesTables - Part One
- Tables - Part Two
- Tables - Part Three
- Tables - Part Four
- Tables - Part Five
Recap
Single Tasking
Much worse than you think.
Multitasking isn’t just ineffective – it’s actually harmful. Each time you juggle your attention between multiple tasks, you are training your brain to crave constant stimulation. The more you engage in multitasking, the shorter your capacity to focus becomes. This is especially concerning since nearly all meaningful learning requires our complete focus.
Sure. The problem is that the kind of work you get done often belongs in the bin.
The only learning you can accomplish while multitasking is shallow learning. If you’re trying to learn a new concept, forget it. you’ll always end up on the outside looking in. Difficult and worthwhile learning requires complete attention.
A busy person does a lot of things.
A productive person does the right things.
It’s because of a thing called attention residue.
Have you ever found yourself in a stressful situation, maybe a job interview, a fight or getting ready for that big race? How do you think you would go if you had to sit down and start learning right after the stressful situation. Chances are you’re going to learn nothing. But why is this?
Just because the stressful event is over, that doesn’t mean your brain will let you off the hook. This is only a luxury reserved for animals. Did you ever wonder why a deer shakes its legs so violently after escaping the jaws of a leopard? It does this to burn off any excess adrenaline, and it happily hops off back to what it was doing without a care in the world.
A deer can move on with a fresh mind. We can’t. After the stress has occurred, our mind is still playing it back over. Some of your attention remains on what just happened. Some of your attention will remain behind on the task you just came from whenever you begin a new task. This is attention residue.
The busier you are, the more tasks you’re doing. The more tasks you’re doing, the less focused you are on the work you’re doing.
Lesson Cards
Single Tasking
Card 1
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Key Idea
Keeping “busy” and constantly switching tasks interrupts the focus required for meaningful work
Card 2
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Key Idea
Deep focus can only happen when you have a single focus.
Card 3
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Key Idea
Action is only useful when it’s in the right direction. • Busy equals doing a lot of things • Productive equals doing the right things.
Card 4
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Key Idea
Every time you engage in multitasking, you train your brain to keep doing it.
Card 5
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Key Idea
The more you multitask, the more you want to. Before long, it feels uncomfortable not to.