In an era where students are constantly immersed in high-stimulation digital environments shaped by platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, educators face a growing challenge: how to sustain attention in spaces that are not designed to compete with algorithmically optimized content. As one might argue, for many students today, Google has become their “first professor,” reshaping expectations around how information is accessed, delivered, and engaged with. This session explores a central thought experiment: Can the strategies used by content creators to drive engagement in the attention economy be adapted to improve student engagement in the classroom? Drawing on techniques widely used in digital content creation (attention hooks, open loops, rapid pacing, segments, social proofs, storytelling, and feedback-driven iteration) this session reframes teaching as an exercise not only in knowledge delivery, but in attention design, offering a practical “translation layer” between the attention economy and the classroom. To put these ideas into practice, participants will break into small groups and compete in a rapid “hook” challenge: each group will be randomly assigned a subject from a different discipline and given 60 seconds to design and deliver a 1–2 minute opening that captures attention and makes the room care, followed by a live vote on which group most effectively applied the strategies.
Zaria Khan is an IT Audit and Cyber Risk professional and emerging educator focused on advancing excellence in teaching and learning within technology disciplines. Currently at Capital One and formerly with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, she brings real-world experience... Read More →
Monday May 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT Zoom Virtual Session(Zoom links can be found under each session's description.)
