In Azerbaijani universities, the duration of a lesson hour is 90 minutes in some higher education institutions, and 80 minutes in others. However, according to teachers and students, after the first hour of the lesson, students' attention decreases, and they cannot effectively listen to the teacher. Fatigue and distraction negatively affect the quality of teaching.
Therefore, some teachers suggest reducing the lesson hour to a minimum of 60 minutes.
Modern.az reports that regarding the topic, education expert Ramin Nurəliyev told "Azedu.az" that it would be more appropriate for lessons to be 60 minutes:
"I would like to explain some experience regarding lesson hours being 80-90 minutes in higher education institutions. Especially in American and Canadian universities, lessons are mainly taught between 60-75 minutes. In Europe and Turkey, the lesson duration usually varies between 55-70 minutes. In some cases, there are also 80-minute lessons.
Here, in previous years, lecture and seminar lessons were taught for 90 minutes, in accordance with the tradition remaining from the Soviet era. This tradition continues to this day. I believe that, based on certain experience, it can be considered normal for lecture lessons to be 80-90 minutes.
However, previous seminar lessons are currently conducted more in the form of practical and laboratory lessons. It would be more appropriate for these types of lessons to be 60 minutes. Longer lecture lessons are recommended in a certain sense. Because in some cases, teachers come from a long distance, and shortening the lesson duration can create certain inconveniences. Also, in lecture lessons, some topics are presented in a combined manner. From this perspective, it can be considered normal for lectures to be 80 or 90 minutes".
Psychologists, however, state that the average continuous attention span of the human brain is 28-35 minutes:
"However, it can be considered more appropriate for laboratory, practical, and seminar-type lessons to be 60 minutes. Such an approach also exists in international practice. Here, conducting seminar and laboratory lessons for 90 minutes, like lectures, is, frankly speaking, excessive. This creates certain inconveniences for both teachers and students.
Psychologists note that the average continuous attention span of the human brain is 28-35 minutes. After 35 minutes, the comprehension and analysis of information become difficult. This is precisely why lessons in general secondary schools are 45 minutes. During this period, 20-25 minutes are allocated for checking homework, reviewing the previous lesson, and explaining the new lesson, so that students can grasp the topic more easily.
Many lecture teachers and professors divide 90-minute lessons into several parts. For example, after a 30-minute explanation, a short break is given, and a 5-minute real-life example is presented. During this time, students' brains "rest" to some extent and can listen to the next part more attentively.
Overall, considering the attention capabilities of the human brain, it can be said that a 90-minute continuous lesson duration is too long and it would be appropriate to reduce it. Lecture lessons can be 80 minutes, while seminar and practical lessons can be 60 minutes".
