The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, cognitive load theory suggests that instructional design should minimize unnecessary cognitive load to facilitate learning. This is particularly relevant in multimedia learning environments, where learners must integrate information from multiple sources, such as text and diagrams. Research indicates that when information is presented in a spatially and temporally integrated manner, extraneous load is reduced, allowing more working memory resources to be devoted to schema construction and automation. However, intrinsic load, which depends on the complexity of the material itself, cannot be altered by instructional design. Therefore, effective instructional strategies must balance both types of load to optimize learning outcomes.