Ask any teacher what’s changed in the classroom over the past decade, and you’ll likely hear one word: attention.

Between smartphones, streaming, and social media, today’s students are wired differently. They expect instant feedback, fast content, and digital fluency. That doesn’t mean they’re disengaged — it just means the rules have changed.

In case you missed it, Miller recently announced the formation of a live-virtual cohort with RocketPD to explore one of the most pressing questions in education today:

How can teachers capture and keep student attention — without gimmicks, overload, or burnout?

Why Attention Spans Are Shrinking

In a 2024 article from EdSurge, researchers noted that even the presence of a smartphone in a student’s backpack can reduce focus and working memory. Meanwhile, the Harvard Bok Center reports that devices — while powerful learning tools — can also fragment attention when used haphazardly.

That means we need to be more intentional than ever in how we design instruction.

Matt Miller’s Take: Make Learning Buzzworthy

In his book Tech Like a Pirate, Matt challenges the idea that fun is fluff. Instead, he argues that engaging, interactive learning experiences are essential for attention and retention.

In a recent RocketPD Podcast, Miller explained how teachers can tap into the same psychology that keeps students hooked on apps — but use it to deepen learning.

“When we design experiences that feel familiar — but surprising — we activate the brain’s reticular activating system. That’s how you break through the noise.”

1. Use App-Inspired Projects

Students are fluent in digital formats — Instagram, YouTube, Yelp. So why not design learning that speaks their language?

• Create a Yelp-style review of a literary character or historical event
• Build an Instagram story recap of a science lab
• Ask students to curate a playlist of primary sources for a civics debate

These projects aren’t just fun — they’re memorable and rooted in authentic skills.

2. Rearrange the Plate (Don’t Add to It)

One of Miller’s most powerful insights is that teachers don’t need to “do more.” They need to do better with what they already have.

That means:

• Choosing one digital tool and going deep
• Streamlining routines to create space for creativity
• Using low-tech tools (like Google Slides) in innovative ways

As Miller says: “Tech isn’t the solution — but it can help us get there faster when we’re clear on our purpose.”

3. Design with Student Motivation in Mind

In a 2024 Common Sense Education article, researchers stressed the importance of agency and relevance in reducing distraction. When students care, they engage.

Miller encourages educators to ask students:

• What do you love doing outside of school?
• What problems do you care about?
• How do you want to show what you’ve learned?

Let students help design the learning. Their attention — and ownership — will follow.