Classroom Focus & Concentration for Students

Focus and concentration are almost similar, almost as the two faces of the same coin, apparently. But there are differences as well, a lot of it. 

Focus is a rather relative and instant based term, concentration is more deep and often time unbounded. In that way, focus is an effect of application of concentration for some purpose at some time. 

Have you heard of a person with very poor quality concentration but a high quality focus? Without adequate concentration power, one would find it very hard to maintain an ordinary level of focus for even a short period of time. 

One who has a significant amount of concentration can focus anytime on anything, on demand. Focus depends on many factors other than just the concentration and it also keeps on changing rapidly with every elapsing time. 

If concentration is the engine then focus is the wheel. Obviously if only the engine works then the wheel rotates. But working of the engine is not the only factor for the car to move and move smoothly. From punctures of the tyre to the breaking of the axle, so many things can stop the wheel from rotating. 

So for a smooth operation of the car one needs to maintain all the relevant parts in working and obviously that includes the concentration power of the brain.

Focus is an instantaneous feature of our way of doing any work or studies. The same person can be highly focused this moment and also can be very poorly focused in the next moment. 

Have you seen how the convex lens can converge sunlight on one spot to burn a piece of paper? This can be a good analogy for our current purpose. 

The concentration is the sunlight and the lens is the focus. If there is no sunlight then there cannot be focus either. And if there is ample sunlight then once the lens is not at the right position, the rays would not converge and the paper would not burn.

This way concentration and focus is interlinked and also interdependent. Often teachers are more worried about the focus of students in the classroom. But they do not have much idea about concentration. Also they need to understand that focus does not work without concentration. 

Building focus is easier than concentrating. Focus is more on habit and mindset. If a student has a positive mindset about studies and career and has some good habits of applying himself to studies and learning then there should not be any issue on focus. 

But concentration is totally a different thing. It is one of the most important equipment endowed by Nature and God to us for performing any humane task more precisely and efficiently. But acquiring and developing this equipment is one of the toughest challenges for human existence. 

Great scholars and sages tried through ages to research and find ways to develop the theory of concentration but yet not too much is not known about this mysterious and mystical source of power for humans. 

There are some basic level theories and processes defined for practicing the development of concentration. But unfortunately the global education system failed to focus itself on these matters of concentration and focus for students. 

The education systems are busy telling what to learn and what to do for better education and career. But there is not much focus on how to learn, how to do better in education. Thus the current education system boils down to a bagful of information and data. Somehow pickup the bags of information on the shoulders, at least for the temporary purpose of exams and then one gets certified as educated.