Larry Vickroy

Attention span is not confined to a particular century. Attention span is self created. What has changed is the increased number of and proliferation of easily accessible electronic distractions. Modern students need to put those distractions aside for the good of their career goals the same as those "of Olde" needed to decide that staring out the window also was not good for their educational development.
(Having come from the "of Olde" century, this I know.)
The modern electronic teaching tools that we now use actually makes for a much more varied (and useful) learning environment in the same 'long' class structure, and is a benefit to all concerned. Either you care to learn or you don't. It still seems to be our job as educators to make it something to care about?

Jona Green

I don't think so. We as instructors have the freedom to involve so many teaching methods and instruments, I can't believe that we would just give in to the attention span argument.

If students don't see the value in the course, that is when they are most likely to drift off into other pursuits during class.