The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional design aims to manage this load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hampered when the load exceeds the learner's capacity, often due to poorly structured materials or extraneous information. Conversely, reducing unnecessary cognitive load can free up resources for schema acquisition and automation. Recent studies suggest that multimedia presentations, when designed with coherence and signaling principles, can significantly lower extraneous load, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention. However, researchers caution that individual differences, such as prior knowledge and spatial ability, moderate these effects, indicating that a one-size-fits-all approach to instructional design is ineffective.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 학습 자료에서 인지 부하를 줄일 수 있는 핵심 요소는 무엇인가?
A. 외부 정보의 양을 증가시키는 것
B. 일관성 및 신호 원칙에 따라 멀티미디어를 사용하기
C. 모든 학습자가 동일한 교수 설계를 받을 수 있도록 보장하는 것
D. 부하를 고려하지 않고 스키마 획득에만 집중하는 것
✅ 正确答案
Using multimedia with coherence and signaling principles
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first