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 that 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 complements the learning, should be referred as optional readings, included as additional materials or resources to be consulted by the learners once the mandatory core learning elements are retained. [1]


Toolkit.png Considering the cognitive load while designing a course

General Guidelines

  1. Remember:
    • The working memory has limited capacity to process and store information
    • There is no control on which information is integrated into the long-term memory
    • The information provided to learners must be carefully selected, avoiding overwhelming the working memory
  2. Identify:
    • What is necessary to know to meet the learning objectives
    • The compulsory study materials required to meet the learning objectives
    • What would be nice to know to complement the learning
  3. Include what is necessary to know in the compulsory study materials
  4. Include what is nice to know as optional or additional study materials
  5. Make sure that each lesson in a particular course:
    • Provides reasonable amount of information (pages/slides) and does not overwhelm the working memory
    • Includes reasonable amount of text (pages/slides) and that sentences are short and easy to understand [2]


Job Aid

Pdf.png Considering the cognitive load while designing a course
Link icon.png Web Resources
Below you have the link to further resources related to learning goals:
Link Content
Learning and Retention: How to Improve Content Retention in Training (Video, 3 min) The content is meant to help instructors question whether they are setting up their courses for short term or long term results - when they define the learning objectives. It discusses content retention strategies and the drawbacks of only teaching for short term retention. This video touches on the importance to think about training for long term memory retention.



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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