Comprehensively Summarizing What Distracts Students from Online Learning: A Literature Review

Abstract

As online learning becomes an indispensable component of the current education system, students benefit from the advantages of online education. At the same time, students are also facing more challenges during online learning. Multitasking, mind-wandering, and using digital devices are the extensively discussed types of distractions that detriment students’ learning performance by impairing their focused attention. However, the consensus on the definition of distraction and what represents distraction during online learning are still lacking. This literature review develops a comprehensive definition of distraction, summarizes three main types of distraction (multitasking, mind-wandering, and using digital devices), and proposes two new types of distraction (unexpected interruption and consistent interference). Since the detrimental effects of distraction on online learning are salient, more explorations on helping students to resist distractions and maintain focused attention are imperative for future studies.

Metacognitive Management of Attention in Online Learning

“…It is far easier for a learner to be distracted from a screen than from classroom-led instruction (e.g., Aivaz and Teodorescu 2022;Conrad et al 2022). Further, online education permits far more sources of interruption, including phone calls, error messages, text-message alerts, dropped connections, social media notifications, and more (Wang 2022).…”

Promoting engagement in online learning beyond COVID‐19: Possible strategies and directions for future research

“…Although online learning provides flexibility to students regarding the choice of when, where and how to study, students are easily distracted from their online study (Lodge et al., 2022; Maqableh & Alia, 2021). More specifically, distractions can be defined as attention being diverted from the primary task to secondary tasks (Wang, 2022). Distracted learning can adversely affect student learning (Schmidt, 2020).…”

“…Digital devices typically refer to electronic tools such as smartphones and tablets that are used for leisure purposes (Flanigan & Kim, 2022). Since online learning occurs mainly in students' homes rather than in traditional classrooms under the watchful eye of the instructors, students find it harder to maintain focused attention during online lessons (Wang, 2022). A recent study found a significant difference between online and face‐to‐face learning modes, with a whopping 95% of students saying that they used their devices in online courses for non‐course related purposes, compared to 75% in face‐to‐face classes (Aivaz & Teodorescu, 2022).…”

“…Distracted learning can adversely affect student learning (Schmidt, 2020). Examples of distractions in online learning include using digital devices and mind-wandering (Wang, 2022). Digital devices typically refer to electronic tools such as smartphones and tablets that are used for leisure purposes (Flanigan & Kim, 2022).…”

Perspective Chapter: A Firm Belief in Online Virtual Learning Environment

“…Interestingly, the basis of these findings relies upon whether the overall learning execution is engaging or if the learner has distractions interfering with their online environment. Some opinions from learning blogs weigh in on the latter: Surrounding distractions impact overall learning outcomes [48,49]. Other results show that if the learning professional is not proficient, online users will likely fail the learning objective compared to their physical classrooms [50,51].…”