Course description

Attention helps you select what matters for the activity in front of you. It is limited, but it is not a single fuel tank that works the same way for every person and every task. The demands of the task, your knowledge, interruptions, and your current state all influence what you can manage. This course explains why we miss things, what happens when we switch tasks, and why remaining on a page is different from following its meaning. It then introduces the mental control involved in remembering a goal, stopping an unhelpful response, and changing approach. The final lesson applies these ideas to instructions and work environments that are easier to use.

Topics covered

• What attention selects and misses
• Multitasking and interruptions
• Staying with a task and noticing when you drift
• Mental control and manageable demands
• cognition
• Beginner

Prerequisites and next steps

This course belongs to Cognitive Foundations. Start with the first step, then work through each level in order before moving back to the path.