“We remember only what we pay attention to — and attention is fragile.”

This quote has stayed with me since attending an AHISA (Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia) meeting last week. One of the speakers was Dr Jared Cooney Horvath — a cognitive neuroscientist and educator with a remarkable gift for making the science of learning come to life. His work explores how the brain learns best and what this means for schools, families and young people today.

One of the central questions Dr Horvath posed was this: Does educational technology help or hinder learning?

It’s a timely and important question. At Kingswood College, we embrace innovation and understand that technology has the potential to engage students, personalise learning, and provide tools that were unimaginable a generation ago. But we also know that real learning depends on attention, and attention is something that is increasingly under pressure in our fast-paced, screen-saturated world. Dr Horvath reminded us that the brain remembers what it pays attention to. If our attention is constantly split between tabs, tasks, and notifications, we’re less likely to engage deeply, remember meaningfully, or think critically. This isn’t just a challenge for students, it’s a challenge for all of us.

So, how do we strike the balance? As a school, we believe that learning is most powerful when it’s relational, when it sparks curiosity, and when it involves authentic connection between teachers and students, and among students themselves. Technology has a role to play, but it can never replace the power of human connection in learning. As parents and educators, we can work together to create environments both at school and at home where attention is valued and protected. That might mean tech-free dinner times, boundaries around screen use, or simply taking the time to talk with your child about what they’re learning and why it matters.

If you’re interested, click here to learn more from Dr Horvath’s presentation.

As always, thank you for your partnership in your child’s learning journey.

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