Cognitive load and clear materials

Step 1 Warm-up recall

From M2.L2: how many chunks can working memory hold, as a guide?

Your answer

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Step 2 Learning goal

By the end of this lesson you can:

• define intrinsic and extraneous load (Foundation);
• spot extraneous load in a material (Core);
• redesign a note or diagram to reduce it (Core).

Step 3 A familiar example

A recipe with steps on one page and the ingredient list on another sends you flipping back and forth. The recipe is no harder, but the layout adds effort.

Step 4 Clear explanation

Cognitive load theory (Sweller, 1988) applies the limits of working memory to teaching and study. It separates two kinds of load.

You cannot remove intrinsic load without changing the task, but you can order it: learn the parts before the whole. You can and should remove extraneous load. One common source is split attention: a diagram in one place and its labels in another force you to hold one while finding the other. Put the labels on the diagram. Another is clutter: decorative images, long text on slides and background music with words add load without helping.

In the invented count above, a task with 6 separate elements overloads a capacity of about 4, but grouping them into 2 chunks fits. For novices, worked examples (fully solved problems studied before attempting your own) lower load, and as skill grows the support can fade. Applied to notes: use short phrases, group related ideas under a heading, and keep one idea per line. The entry on working memory describes the underlying limits.

Step 5 Worked example (4 marks)

A slide shows a diagram on the left and a numbered key at the bottom. Suggest a change.

1. The reader must look back and forth between the diagram and the key. (1 mark)
2. That is split attention: extraneous load. (1 mark)
3. Put each label on its part of the diagram. (1 mark)
4. Answer: integrate labels with the diagram and drop the separate key. (1 mark)

Step 6 Learner practice (instant-marked)

Step 7 Recap

• Intrinsic load is the topic; extraneous load is the presentation.
• Integrate labels and remove clutter.
• Use worked examples for new material.

Step 8 Exit ticket (ungraded)

Give one way to cut extraneous load in your own notes.

Your answer

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Step 9 Go further (Extension)

Redesign one page of your notes to reduce split attention.