You’re Training, but Are They Learning?

What’s the attention span of your trainees? According to studies of adult learners, your trainees may be paying a lot less attention to vital safety training than you think. Most studies of adult attention spans agree that for most adults the outer limit is about 20 minutes. The longer the session continues, the shorter the attention span. One study indicates that after an hour of uninterrupted lecture, attention spans can drop to 3 or 4 minutes, punctuated by long periods of inattention.

You have to wonder—and worry—about what trainees might have missed during those lapses in attention. Was it the essential piece of information that could have prevented an accident?

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Why are trainees’ attention spans so short? Years ago, people were accustomed to listening more. They could sit and listen attentively to long lectures and speeches. In the days of radio, people stayed glued to their wireless sets and never missed a word. Students grew up listening to their teachers lecture for an entire period at a time. But times have changed.

We’re much more visually oriented today. Many educators and training experts believe that attention spans are actually shrinking. Just watch TV with the sound off for a few minutes. The images change every few seconds. Take a look at the electronic games that kids grow up on today, and think about e-mail, texting, and so many other recent technological developments. Information comes at you now in short, fast bursts. So, trainees—especially the younger ones—may tune out anything that requires too much focus for too long.

So what can you do to keep their attention? Training experts say that there are steps you can take when planning training sessions to improve the odds that trainees are engaged and learning the whole time. For example:

• Plan training sessions in reasonably small bits and bites. Say you’re going to train on a particular hazard, procedures necessary to prevent injuries, and required PPE. Rather than delivering information about all three points in one continuous stream, break it up into three chunks, interspersed with interaction between trainer and trainees, and among trainees.


• Make sure self-paced and e-learning materials are composed of short modules, each with interactive opportunities and chances to review information covered.

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• Include interactivity when you lecture. For instance, talk for a bit and then discuss what you’ve just covered, encouraging lots of trainee participation. Or, have a question and answer period between training points. Divide large training groups into small groups to discuss issues or complete training exercises. Use quizzes and problem-solving exercises to challenge trainees and make them think about what they’re learning. Give trainees a chance to practice what they’ve learned for a few minutes before proceeding to the next point.


• Realize that the younger your trainees are, the more you need to take attention span into account. Young workers, who have grown up in the electronic age, may have shorter attention spans than older workers.


• Use a combination of training techniques. For instance, give a brief 5-minute introduction, show a short training video, have a discussion about key points, then give a quiz, and then provide a handout and have a short review.


• Allow rest breaks during long training sessions so that trainees have a chance to get up and move around, have some coffee, and refresh themselves for the next round.

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Why It Matters…

• Safety training isn’t an option; it’s a necessity.


• If trainees aren’t paying attention, how can they learn what they need to know to work safely when they return to the job?


• Understanding and accommodating trainees’ attention spans greatly increases the probability that vital information will be learned and retained.

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