AJ Juliani, an educator and author from the University of Pennsylvania, dives into keeping students engaged in a distraction-heavy world. He argues that simply removing devices won’t fix engagement issues. Instead, he emphasizes meaningful, student-centered learning and the importance of choice in education. Juliani also discusses methods to integrate technology effectively and build self-regulation skills among learners. His insights highlight the adaptation needed in education to resonate with today's digitally-oriented students.
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insights INSIGHT
Continuous Partial Attention Impact
Continuous partial attention means we are giving attention to many things at once, not just dividing it.
This makes it very difficult to focus due to the brain's competing networks shifting between tasks and scanning for new information.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Brain-Based Focus Strategies
Use the 25-5 method: focus task-positive network for 20-25 minutes then allow the default mode to scan via breaks.
Create threat-free zones by limiting distractions and use triggers like playlists to signal focus time.
insights INSIGHT
Engagement Beyond Attention
Engagement requires both high attention and high commitment from students.
Meaningful, relevant learning fosters commitment that outperforms TikTok's mere attention-grabbing tactics.
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In 'Empower: Conquering the Disease of Fear', Tareq Azim shares his journey from being a descendant of Afghan nobles to creating the Afghan Women’s Boxing Federation. The book offers insights into how fear can be transformed into a catalyst for personal growth and resilience, featuring case studies from notable figures like Jake Shields and Tulsi Gabbard.
Adaptable
Herman Pontzer
In *Adaptable*, Herman Pontzer delves into the fascinating world of human biological diversity, explaining how our bodies adapt to different environments and lifestyles. The book explores how these adaptations influence health, disease risk, and overall well-being, emphasizing the importance of understanding our biological diversity in the context of global health challenges.
Meaningful and Relevant: Engaging Learners in an Era of Distraction
Meaningful and Relevant: Engaging Learners in an Era of Distraction
AJ Juliani
Launch
Jeff Walker
The Anxious Generation
Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.
The PBL Playbook
The PBL Playbook
AJ Juliani
We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges educators face today: keeping students engaged in a world full of distractions.
AJ Juliani joins me to explore how to create meaningful and relevant learning experiences that resonate with today’s learners, even in the age of TikTok, smartphones, and endless notifications.
He’s an educator, author, and speaker who serves as an instructor for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (PLN). AJ has worked towards innovative learning experiences as the Director of Learning and Innovation for Centennial School District, as Curriculum Coordinator, as Tech Director, English teacher, football coach, and K-12 Instructional Coach. His favorite role is being dad to five kids. You might know AJ from his books Adaptable, Empower, Launch, or The PBL Playbook.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Why simply removing phones or distractions won’t solve the engagement problem.
How to balance direct instruction with collaborative, student-centered learning.
Why meaningful, relevant tasks are more effective than “rigorous” assignments for long-term learning.
The “traffic light” system for integrating technology and AI into classroom activities.
How to help students develop focus, self-regulation, and intrinsic motivation.
Strategies for using choice and ownership to foster deeper learning experiences.
The surprising truths about rigor, assessment, and knowledge transfer.
How to create performance tasks that build real-world skills and make learning stick.
Why human connection and relationships are more vital than ever in education.
Practical advice for building long-term habits of engagement that go beyond quick fixes.
AJ also shares insights from his latest book and offers actionable strategies for educators who want to make their teaching meaningful and impactful in a rapidly changing world.
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers 
