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 psychology, cognitive load theory (CLT) suggests that learning is most effective when instructional materials are designed to minimize extraneous cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for intrinsic load and germane load. Intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the material itself, while germane load is the effort devoted to constructing and automating schemas. Recent studies have shown that multimedia presentations can either enhance or hinder learning, depending on how they manage these different types of load. For instance, redundant on-screen text accompanying spoken narration often increases extraneous load, leading to poorer retention. Conversely, well-integrated visuals and audio can reduce split-attention effects, promoting deeper understanding. Thus, educators must carefully balance the presentation of information to optimize cognitive processing.