[newcomer]

They are often dismissed as daydreamers and told to pay attention.

But children actually do better at school if they stare out of the window instead of focusing constantly on the teacher, according to a study.

Despite appearances, they are concentrating hard on their work or trying to learn something, it found.

Teachers are being asked to check whether youngsters are staring into space often enough to consolidate their learning.

Those who look away from others at points during a lesson are likely to have a better understanding than pupils who do so less often, say University of Stirling researchers.

They observed more than 230 children, aged from five to early adulthood, and found that apparent daydreamers did better in tests and problem-solving tasks such as balancing a beam with asymmetrical loads.

Youngsters aged four to six, for example, were more likely to avert their gaze when carrying out a task they found difficult, or that was new, but looked away less if being tested by someone they knew.

For older children, so-called 'gaze aversion' was linked to the complexity of the task in hand, rather than familiarity with the tester.

This result held across a range of different tasks, the researchers said. 'These results are important because they show that children avert their gaze when they are trying to carry out a task which is difficult or with which they are not yet familiar,' said Dr Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon, whose research was financed by the Economic and Social Research Council.

'That means that gaze aversion is a useful thing for teachers, carers and parents to know about.'

From the point of view of teachers, gaze aversion can be a 'positive sign'.

Children who used it were more likely to be termed 'improvers' by Dr Doherty-Sneddon.

By contrast, children who were not improving their performance, or were going backwards, used it less often.

The researchers believe paying attention distracts children because their brains are too busy trying to interpret visual cues from the teacher.

They believe the findings can help teachers understand the mental state of pupils with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

It could also help those with Williams Syndrome, also known as Cocktail Party Syndrome.

'People with Williams Syndrome have been characterised as being hypersociable and using excessive amounts of eye contact, which is an interesting contrast to people with autism,' said Dr Doherty-Sneddon.

' Our gaze aversion work promises to provide new and important insights into the mental and social functioning of such groups.'
-- TDM/02nd June 2008

[elainesy]

Daydreaming pupils can do well, den i go work i also Daydreaming lah, den i can work well?! =X

[haruX]

really? i not so clever but i always daydream.. =/

[guantanamera]

wah so i do daydream so i can study well hoho

[xiao puppy]

huh??

[k3nn7i]

ahya...i daydream in schl in de past, then nw in work. WOW..im the smart ones man. LOL

[sovering]

wah... pls some1 do some research and publish saying tat daydreaming at work are the best workers... must give big big bonus.. wahahha.... yeah.....

[debbielmy]

i daydream alot..

but i don't think i'm considered smart..

hmm..

muN-

[water-sprite]

I think they meant those who look like they're daydreaming.... but are actually processing all the info....

I rmb in sec sch, we had this guy in the back of the class who looks like he was sleeping or daydreaming all the time... pretty smart fellow who scored As I think...

Heh... also those who sleep in class might be closet muggers... probably had been burning the midnight oil the night before!

[hellolovee♥]

o.O
i always daydream in class,kena scolded by maths teacher..
but my studies like average leh,

[Taquiner]

I am a full time day dreamer <3

[princessLUCK]

Originally Posted by newcomer

They are often dismissed as daydreamers and told to pay attention.

But children actually do better at school if they stare out of the window instead of focusing constantly on the teacher, according to a study.

Despite appearances, they are concentrating hard on their work or trying to learn something, it found.

Teachers are being asked to check whether youngsters are staring into space often enough to consolidate their learning.

Those who look away from others at points during a lesson are likely to have a better understanding than pupils who do so less often, say University of Stirling researchers.

They observed more than 230 children, aged from five to early adulthood, and found that apparent daydreamers did better in tests and problem-solving tasks such as balancing a beam with asymmetrical loads.

Youngsters aged four to six, for example, were more likely to avert their gaze when carrying out a task they found difficult, or that was new, but looked away less if being tested by someone they knew.

For older children, so-called 'gaze aversion' was linked to the complexity of the task in hand, rather than familiarity with the tester.

This result held across a range of different tasks, the researchers said. 'These results are important because they show that children avert their gaze when they are trying to carry out a task which is difficult or with which they are not yet familiar,' said Dr Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon, whose research was financed by the Economic and Social Research Council.

'That means that gaze aversion is a useful thing for teachers, carers and parents to know about.'

From the point of view of teachers, gaze aversion can be a 'positive sign'.

Children who used it were more likely to be termed 'improvers' by Dr Doherty-Sneddon.

By contrast, children who were not improving their performance, or were going backwards, used it less often.

The researchers believe paying attention distracts children because their brains are too busy trying to interpret visual cues from the teacher.

They believe the findings can help teachers understand the mental state of pupils with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

It could also help those with Williams Syndrome, also known as Cocktail Party Syndrome.

'People with Williams Syndrome have been characterised as being hypersociable and using excessive amounts of eye contact, which is an interesting contrast to people with autism,' said Dr Doherty-Sneddon.

' Our gaze aversion work promises to provide new and important insights into the mental and social functioning of such groups.'
-- TDM/02nd June 2008

ahem.. why aren't this result out when i am still studying... tat really saved myself a lot of explainations to my teachers... lol

[ethyne]

LOL.
Interesting find!
But i'm kinda skeptical about this.



I can also come up with a finding:
"Study shows that students who don't study are actually the most intelligent"
(for those goddamn smart kias who dun need to)

[nutritionpark]

well...but if they are day dreaming about fun and games...or other non sch stuff...does it still apply then?

[DomoKun]

well . i m counted as the most intelligent