Concentration basically refers to the competency of sustained focussed attention. No specific foolproof system can be designed for the development of the mental quality like Concentration. What we know about it is much less than what we still have to know. However, certain basic principles can be suggested for making a plan of action for the development of concentration.
Identify the learning style of the learner
Develop a learner specific plan based on his/her learning style.
Choose an activity of one's own interest pertaining to the learning style of the learner
Pursue the activity with total devotion and involvement.
Separately or together make activity plan for
Receptive phase
Processive phase
Productive phase
Make a graded plan of target for different phases of the activity based on the following principles:
Fine -> Finer
Deep -> Deeper
Difficult -> More difficult
Large -> Larger
Less time -> More time
Activity should be so designed that one is able to perform the task over a longer and longer period of time in each phase.
Targets should be set in such a way that the learner is able to achieve it without much difficulty. Unattainable targets may dissuade him from making an attempt and without targets one may not have the requisite will to achieve more.
It is not necessary to keep a charter of targets ready from before. Depending on achievements gradually higher targets should be set. Enough time should be given for practice to achieve the target.
Encourage the efforts and achievements
On achieving the target the learner should be given proper reward. It is not necessary that reward may always be in material form. Even simple form of verbal and non-verbal gestures like patting, gentle touch with feeling, verbal appreciation, a written remark in diary, etc. has great motivational effect.
It is thus important to understand that concentration can be developed through all kinds of activities. A cobbler can develop the power of concentration while mending his shoes. He can design his activity in such a fashion that he has to perform finer and finer works. This way he can gradually develop his power of concentration by increasing the span of attention and reducing the distraction and fluctuation. Similarly a housewife can enhance her power of concentration by engaging herself in an activity of her own choice, for example, knitting, stitching, embroidery etc. in which she can have finer and finer or denser and denser stitches. Simple examples can be given from all walks of life.
In ancient times Saints and Rishis used to go to forest where they led a quite and peaceful life and tried to acquire power of concentration through meditation. No doubt meditation is one of the best means of developing concentration but whole idea of this book is to devise and prescribe activities which can be pursued by children in normal circumstances.
Remember the Yogic principle for development of concentration "Hold on to one subject for a long time." This is the key principle for all games and activities, which can be designed to develop concentration.
Let us see it through an example.
Age group: All
Learning Style: Logical
Procedure
Learner should be asked to stand up or sit in Padmasana. If it is not possible to sit in Padmasana, he/she should be asked to sit in any comfortable posture.
Learner can perform this exercise with closed or open eyes. However, it would be preferable to keep eyes open.
He/ she should then be asked to orally count natural numbers 1, 2, 3, ..????? .
The number should be counted in such a way that no mistake is committed in speaking the number or in the order.
As soon as there is a mistake in counting, the learner has to stop.
Now the learner should always try to achieve higher than what he/she has achieved earlier. To give an example, if the learner has counted up to 100 without mistake, then he should be given a target of 150 or 200 within a fixed period, say, 1-week.
After he/she has achieved this target, he/she should be properly rewarded. Then, a new target should be set at 250 or 300 and so on. This way the learner should be encouraged to count numbers as high as possible without committing any mistake.
The learner should also be encouraged to keep a record of the achievement.
A competition may also be organized among learners to assess their relative performances. A healthy competition is a great motivator.
Instead of natural numbers learner may be asked to count without mistake
Even numbers
Odd numbers
Backward numbers
Backward even numbers
Backward odd numbers
Skip counting by skipping 3, 4 etc. viz. 2,5,8,????? or 3, 7, 11, ???..
Backward skip counting viz.100, 97, 94, ? depending on the level of understanding of learners.
A personal record should be kept for all those counting.
The exercise should be resorted to only when one has developed some proficiency in such counting.
It is a good tool for development of concentration only if one does not make a mistake in such counting due to poor mathematical knowledge.
For details
see The Art of Developing Concentration.
©2001-2009 APCL
Last changed:
Mon Oct 5 05:04:52 2009