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 seek to manage cognitive load to optimize learning outcomes. According to Sweller's cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic load (complexity of the material) and extraneous load (how the material is presented) exceed the learner's available working memory capacity. However, recent studies suggest that a certain level of germane load, which involves the mental resources dedicated to processing and understanding the underlying structure of the content, is essential for deep learning. Thus, effective instruction should minimize extraneous load while preserving opportunities for germane cognitive processing, rather than simply reducing all types of load.
❓ 認知負荷理論が指導設計に与える主な示唆は、何ですか？
A. あらゆる種類の認知負荷は、学習者を圧倒しないように最小限に抑えるべきである。
B. 指導は、内容を簡素化することによって内在的負荷を減らすことだけに焦点を当てるべきである。
C. デザイナーは、無関係な負荷を減らすべきだが、深い理解のためには関連する負荷を促進すべきである。
D. 学習成果は、作業記憶が複雑な教材で完全に占められているときに最も良くなります。
✅ 正确答案
Designers should reduce extraneous load but encourage germane load for deep understanding.
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