Identification of the implications of the ecology of attention for the design of virtual learning environments

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Hassan ZOKHTAREH

Bu-Ali Sina University

10.22067/rltf.2025.93512.1142

Abstract

The rapid expansion of information and communication technologies, alongside the emergence of digital media, has placed attention at the core of the teaching and learning process. This has given rise to decline-oriented discourses rooted in economic and psychological approaches, which perceive media as the primary cause of learners' distraction, thereby becoming a formidable competitor to educators. In response, the ecology of attention adopts an archaeological perspective, inviting a deepened examination of the interactions between media and attention. This paper aims to explore the implications of this approach for the design of virtual learning environments. To achieve this, it traces the genesis of the ecology of attention by analyzing its fundamental principles and characteristics, with the goal of deriving relevant insights for the development of digital educational spaces. The methodology is based on qualitative data collection through a systematic review of the theoretical literature, resulting in the selection of thirty-three documents. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method, which identified three major axes: the emergence of the ecology of attention, its intrinsic features, and its practical implications for the creation of digital learning environments. The findings reveal that the ecology of attention emphasizes the inseparability of media and attention, highlighting the role of media in mobilizing human attention toward often insignificant issues. This perspective opens new avenues for educators and designers of pedagogical spaces, who can, through adapted teaching strategies and design approaches, enhance digital literacy while fostering a renewed quality of attention.

Keywords

Economy of attention

Ecology of attention

Concentration

Learning environments

Digital media

Subjects

• french literature

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