Cognitive Load

Cognitive Load

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Term2.png COGNITIVE LOAD
The amount of information that loads the working memory in a learning process. The working memory is the part of the brain that provides temporary storage for new information. It is responsible for processing the information and then integrating it in the long-term memory. The working memory has limited capacity. It can only process and select little information to be integrated in the long-term memory. It is impossible to control what information is selected for processing and long-term storage.


The cognitive load is a very important aspect to be considered while designing a learning process. The information provided to learners must be carefully selected and filtered so as they are confronted only with what is essential. Information that exceeds learners' working memory capacity overwhelms it, compromising the retention of essential elements. A major rule to follow is to clearly identify what is mandatory for the learners to know in order to meet the learning objectives, differentiating it from complementary information. Only information that is necessary to know must comprise the core part of the contents of a learning process to facilitate processing and integration into the long-term memory, therefore increasing retention capacity. Necessary to know information, essential to meet the learning objectives, must form the compulsory study materials. Nice to know information, which complement the learning, should be referred as optional readings, included as additional materials or resources to be consulted by the learners once the coure mandatory learning elements are retained. learners to retain that information. [1]


Toolkit.png Considering the cognitive load while designing a course

General Guidelines

  1. Keep in mind that:
    • The working memory is limited
    • It is impossible to control which information will be registered in the long term memory
  2. Select carefully the information you give learners:
    • Avoid providing learners with too much information, otherwise they might be overwhelmed and not even retain the essential one
  3. Identify:
    • What is necessary to know (information needed in order to meet the learning objectives)
    • What is nice to know (additional information related to the topic but not indispensable in order to meet the learning objectives)
  4. Include what is necessary to know in the compulsory readings
  5. Include what is nice to know in the optional readings
  6. For each lesson of your course make sure that:
    • The amount of slides is reasonable
    • The text included in each slide is not too long [2]


Job Aid

Pdf.png Considering the cognitive load while designing a course


References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia (1 March 2010), edutechwiki (2 March 2010), edtechdev.wordpress.com (2 March 2010), www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (18 March 2010), Cliff Atkinson, “The science of Making Your PowerPoint Memorable: Q&A with Nelson Cowan”, www.beyondbulletpoints.com (June 2004), George A. Miller, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information”, Psychological Review 63, 81-97 (1956)
  2. ↑ Cliff Atkinson, “The science of Making Your PowerPoint Memorable: Q&A with Nelson Cowan”, www.beyondbulletpoints.com (June 2004), George A. Miller, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information”, Psychological Review 63, 81-97 (1956)
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