News Investigation

Attention Span and Safety in E-Learning: An Interview with Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma

Nov 2020 🇮🇳 ParentCircle

In this ParentCircle interview, conducted by psychologist Meghna Singhal during the shift to remote schooling, Manoj Kumar Sharma discusses children's attention and online safety. He argues that what matters is not simply hours logged online but signs of what he calls 'digital burnout' — fatigue and exhaustion from overuse — and cites research suggesting it takes several minutes for a student's concentration to recover after switching to a non-academic app mid-class. He recommends scheduling separate blocks for recreational screen use, building in regular movement breaks roughly every half hour, and approaching children's habits without judgment. On safety, he proposes a 'two Cs' framework — ongoing communication and cyber-literacy — to help children recognize cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and other online risks. TechKids Foundation cites this as a clinician's practical guidance for families navigating remote learning.

3–5 minutes to regain concentration after mid-class multitasking

Sharma cites research indicating that when students multitask during online classes — for example, chatting or gaming — their brains take an estimated 3 to 5 minutes to return to the same level of concentration.

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CITATION

Singhal, Meghna. "Attention Span and Safety in E-Learning: An Interview with Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma." ParentCircle, November 20, 2020. https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-dr-manoj-kumar-sharma-about-attention-span-and-safety-in-e-learning/article

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