雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional designers often aim to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hampered when the working memory is overloaded with extraneous information that does not contribute to schema construction. For instance, a poorly designed diagram may force learners to split their attention between multiple sources of information, thereby increasing extraneous load. Conversely, well-structured materials that integrate related information can reduce this load, allowing learners to focus on essential processes such as schema acquisition and automation. Research suggests that tailoring instructional methods to the learner's level of expertise is crucial, as techniques beneficial for novices may become redundant or even counterproductive for experts, who possess more advanced schemas.