The Concept of Cognitive Load in PsychologyReading passageCognitive load refers to the amount of

Understanding Cognitive Load in Education

Cognitive load refers to the mental effort being used in working memory. In psychology, it is critical to design educational environments that optimize cognitive load, ensuring that learners are neither overwhelmed nor under-stimulated.

Cognitive load is divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic cognitive load relates to the complexity inherent in the material itself, while extraneous cognitive load is caused by the way information is presented. Germane cognitive load involves the mental resources used for learning and creating schemas.

Examples of Cognitive Load

Alright, class, today we’re diving into cognitive load, an essential concept in educational psychology. Let me give you a couple of examples to clarify.

First, think about learning a new language. The intrinsic cognitive load here is high because there’s a lot of complex rules and vocabulary. If you’re using a textbook with a confusing layout and too many distractions, that’s adding to the extraneous load, making it harder to focus on learning. Conversely, a clear, well-organized textbook reduces extraneous load, allowing more mental resources for germane load, like practicing and internalizing the language rules.

Another example is learning math. If a teacher uses overly complex and unnecessary jargon, it increases extraneous load, whereas simplifying explanations and using visual aids can lower it, helping students focus more on understanding concepts, thus enhancing germane load.

Speaking Task Instruction

Explain the concept from the reading and use the professor’s examples to show how it works. Preparation time: 30 seconds, Response time: 60 seconds.

Sample Student Response

Cognitive load is the mental effort used in working memory, and it's divided into intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load. In the lecture, the professor gives two examples. The first is learning a new language. The intrinsic load is high due to complex rules, and a confusing textbook increases extraneous load. But, a clear textbook reduces extraneous load, helping with germane load, which is learning and understanding the language.

The second example is math learning. Complex jargon increases extraneous load, but simplifying explanations helps students focus on understanding, improving germane load. These examples show how managing cognitive load can enhance learning effectively.