I have been a student the majority of my life. Furthermore, I have traditionally been a public school student. I am more than familiar with standardized tests, Apperson machines and being taught for “the test”. Despite my opposition to such an approach to education, I love learning. I love to learn new things in school, and I often find myself pursuing further education through individual studies at home. I have found recently that though I invest myself deeply into things I have an interest in, I could have gone much deeper by changing one thing: my approach.

My first experiences with the Pomodoro technique were actually a couple of years ago, though I was using a heavily adapted form of it. If you are reading this and are not familiar with the Pomodoro technique, allow me to explain. At its most basic level, the Pomodoro technique is a productivity system in which you work in 25-minute blocks, then take a short break (which are usually five minute long), and repeat as much as necessary until you’ve achieved your goals. This approach is designed to maximize productivity and minimize the potential to “burn out”, or push yourself to the point where you have worked so long or hard that your productivity comes to a halt.

My thoughts that inspired this post came after a very satisfying session of design work, and I feel they may be the key to education reform, hence the post. Before I dive too deep into my thoughts, I’d like to discuss my personal experience with public education. Most of my life, I have had classes around 45 minutes long, which on some days can really be a struggle. Though I have always been an honor student, there have been countless days where I find myself struggling to stay focused in class because I feel that I am being overloaded with information, with no chance to breathe and absorb what I am trying to take in. This leads to frustration, lower test scores (on occassion), increased likelihood to become distracted, and higher stress levels for me, which I do not wish to have. From my experience with the Pomodoro technique at home and work, I know that a little break goes a long way, which is why I believe every school in America needs to incorporate the Pomodoro technique in their daily operations.

The necessary setup for the Pomodoro technique is essentially already implemented in many schools. From my experience and the experiences of peers, I have gathered that many schools have classes around 45 minutes long, which is almost perfect for use with the Pomodoro technique. Two Pomodoro “blocks” (as I like to call them) total 50 minutes, and with a five-minute break in between, I believe students will be able to be more productive and learn more in one session than without a short break. With just small schedule adjustments, schools could easily set up timeframes for classes in order to use the technique. The only other “real” requirement necessary to implement the Pomodoro technique would be someone (or something) to keep time for the entire school. This could easily be accomplished through a school’s PA system, particularly those with automated “bells”. Implementation along these guidelines is not only cost-effective, but for schools with the equipment mentioned already installed in their buildings, free.

Going beyond hardware and logistic implementation, teaching the system will come naturally. Most of the people I know would gladly take a break from whatever task they were working on if they were offered one, even if for a short period of time, and I believe that students (especially those my age) will be no exception. It seems that in the digital age we need to check our gadgets to see what’s new on our favorite social networks, and by giving students five minutes to do as they please (within certain bounds), I feel this may reduce classroom distractions and provide students a better social experience as well. It would take a very short time to learn a Pomodoro system for students and teachers alike for its simplicity and would become second nature as soon as those under it begin to see the benefits.

There are critics of the technique that argue that the Pomodoro technique is unprofessional and very limiting, though the arguments made seem to be a matter of perspective. One critique in particular which I found intriguing used arguments around the idea that it is impossible to “break” in the middle of a Pomodoro block if your attention needs to be placed on another matter at the moment (such as if a client calls or a team member needs feedback on their recent work). The plan behind the Pomodoro technique encourages strict focus, but it would be irrational and inhuman to simply ignore everything around you and reach break time before addressing something which demands your immediate attention. From my experience, I usually address whatever may need my attention and then get back to work. Unless you’re a robot, I see no reason for anyone else to act in a similar manner, disqualifying the criticism. The same critic also made statements regarding professionalism and the Pomodoro technique, which indicate a false understanding of the technique at its core. Using a timer (whether analog or digital) is done to ensure users of the technique adhere to the 25-5 time frames, not keep concentration. Concentration must be drawn from personal discipline. In addition, the timer is used as a part of the “anti-burnout” strategy, which without a timer is very ineffective.

To conclude this post, I would like to call America’s schools to action to change the way they teach, and to consider bringing the Pomodoro technique into good use. Through the many success stories and seemingly foolproof structure, the Pomodoro technique is a relatively inexpensive solution, and certainly one which is easy to implement. By bringing the Pomodoro technique to America’s schools, we can give each student a better education and invest in the future of America and its society.