Fidget toys are recommended as "sensory" tools to improve the attention and performance of elementary students with autism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how fidget toys affected the visual attention and skill acquisition of elementary students with autism during storybook reading. Provision of fidget toys was compared with a…

The Brain Balance® (BB) programme has been examined in a centre-based setting, but not yet in a school setting. This pilot study assessed sensorimotor, behavioural and cognitive functioning of students aged 5-15 years with pre-existing developmental and academic challenges who attended three one-hour sessions/week of the BB programme on-site at…

This activity challenges students to establish media usage rules for a 30-day digital declutter, during which time they challenge themselves to disengage from distracting digital media. Students write self-assessments about their media habits and relationship to media before beginning the declutter and after they have finished the 30-day…

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of social media engagement, which includes frequency of using social media platforms (FSMP) and social media involvement, on the academic distraction and academic performance of the student. The study further tests the moderating role of attention control on the relationship between…

This study sought to increase awareness of ADHD though the context of a school assignment completed by a student with ADHD. The student (pseudonym Jim) sought opinions of 67 Australian school students with ADHD between 11-16 years to investigate their schooling experiences. Findings revealed that schooling mostly was a positive experience due to…

Fidget toys have been marketed as universal educational supports in the absence of a scientific evidence base. This article gives an overview of the existing literature on the effect of fidget toy use on student attention, behavior, and learning, and a review of two competing theoretical approaches to fidget toys: sensory processing theory and…

Learner behaviours often provide critical clues about learners' cognitive processes. However, the capacity of human intelligence to comprehend and intervene in learners' cognitive processes is often constrained by the subjective nature of human evaluation and the challenges of maintaining consistency and scalability. The recent widespread AI…

The present multiprobe single-case design study investigated the impact of integrating evidence-based behavioral supports into a small-group reading intervention on student engagement and disruptive behavior for six upper elementary students with co-occurring reading difficulties and inattention. Visual analysis suggested a functional relation for…

Prior laboratory research suggests the visual environment can be a source of distraction for children, reducing attention to instructional tasks and learning outcomes. However, systematic research examining how the visual environment relates to attention in genuine classrooms is rare. In addition, it is unknown what specific aspects of the…

The present multiprobe single-case design study investigated the impact of integrating evidence-based behavioral supports into a small-group reading intervention on student engagement and disruptive behavior for six upper elementary students with co-occurring reading difficulties and inattention. Visual analysis suggested a functional relation for…

Stability balls have become a common option for alternative seating in classrooms. While the social validity of stability ball classroom seating remains high among students and teachers, findings on the effectiveness of this alternative seating method are mixed. This is particularly true when the intent of the intervention is to increase student…

Technology is recognized as a valuable learning tool, but research indicates that students are also distracted by the use of technology in class. Since college students constantly rely on their devices for learning, it has become imperative for instructors to find effective ways of integrating technology into their lessons while reducing digital…

Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have difficulty maintaining their focus during class lessons and often require reminder prompts from an adult including a teacher or instructional assistant. This study used goal setting paired with a technology-based application and Smartwatch to explore increases in elementary student…

The lack of studies on academic procrastination caused by distractions in the context of social isolation, during the COVID-19 pandemic, motivated the study that sought to answer: How do master's and doctoral students perceive distraction and distraction mitigation factors in about your procrastinating behavior? Aiming to understand the…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the effectiveness of matching college students' personality types and learning preferences. The study gathered data from student personality types, college classroom environments, and learning preferences. Personality types were assessed through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality…