What are Different Types of Attention?

There are different types of attention that contribute to academic and occupational success. They are as follows.

• Sustained Attention – This attention type enables a student to stay on a task for a long period of time. The attention of the student in this case does not move away from the task.
  

• Selective Attention – This attention type enables a student to stay on task even when a distraction is present.
  

• Divided Attention – This attention type allows a student to handle two or more tasks at one time. It lets the student pay attention to different tasks even as he or her multi-tasks.
  

In order to identify a particular attention type from among the three different types of attention, it is suggested that you watch for a student’s inability to:

• stay on a task for long periods of time,
• ignore distractions, or
• multi-task.

From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Cognitive Skills – Understanding Learning Challenges