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 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 capacity. For instance, a poorly designed diagram may increase extraneous load, distracting the learner from essential information. Conversely, effective instructional methods can reduce extraneous load, allowing more working memory resources for schema construction. Recent studies suggest that adaptive learning technologies, which tailor content to individual learner's prior knowledge, can further reduce unnecessary cognitive load by presenting information at an appropriate difficulty level. This approach has shown promise in improving retention and problem-solving skills across various disciplines.