2.2.3—Cognitive load theory
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2027
- Objective
- 2.2.3
- Level
- SL
Cognitive load is limited processing demand
Cognitive load is the amount of processing demand placed on working memory. Intrinsic load comes from task complexity, extraneous load from poor presentation, and germane effort from building useful schemas.
Working memory is limited, so instructions should reduce avoidable search and split attention. Prior knowledge changes effective load: a novice may need worked steps that an expert can compress.
A diagram with labels beside the relevant parts can reduce the need to hold two distant sources in mind. Adding decorative text may increase extraneous load without teaching the mechanism.
More information is not automatically better learning. Diagnose which load is consuming capacity and whether the learner is forming a transferable schema.