Connect English

Lately, I’ve been really struggling to keep students’ attention – and I know I’m not alone.
As an ELICOS teacher and teacher trainer, I’ve always believed in the power of tech to enhance learning. But I have to be honest: more and more often, I’m finding it frustrating.
🧠 Students appear to be on task — typing, clicking, nodding — but in reality, they’re browsing, chatting, scrolling… anywhere but mentally present.
They look engaged, but when I check in, it turns out they’ve missed key instructions or content.

… and it’s exhausting.

Not because I don’t trust them, but because I see their potential and want them to be fully part of the learning moment. I want them to take ownership, to connect, to challenge themselves.

But how can that happen when a second tab is just one click away?

To make things trickier, at one of the places where I teach, we use a learning management system that replaces traditional coursebooks, so students need their devices in class. The intention behind it is great: flexibility, accessibility, digital literacy. But in practice, it makes managing attention even harder. The screen is always open. And with it, the temptation.

As teachers, trainers, and academic managers, this tension is very real. We want to prepare learners for a digital world, but we also need to protect space for focus, collaboration, and presence.

What’s worked for me (even if imperfectly):
✅ Building in device-free moments — reflection, pair work, feedback
✅ Making tech use intentional and time-bound
✅ Talking openly with students about digital habits and how they impact learning
✅ Encouraging learners to self-monitor and be honest about distractions

I’m not claiming to have cracked it. But I do think this is something we need to keep talking about, especially at the level of academic leadership.
It’s not just a classroom management issue. It’s a curriculum and culture issue too.

So I’d love to hear from you:
📌 How are you managing device use in your lessons or centres?
📌 How do you balance digital access with real focus?