The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. According to cognitive load theory, instructional design should minimize extraneous cognitive load to facilitate learning. Extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented to learners, rather than by the inherent complexity of the material itself. For instance, a poorly designed diagram that requires the learner to search for corresponding labels can increase extraneous load, thereby impeding the construction of schemas. In contrast, intrinsic load is related to the difficulty of the subject matter itself and cannot be altered by instructional manipulations. Effective teaching strategies, therefore, aim to manage intrinsic load while reducing extraneous load, allowing learners to devote more cognitive resources to the essential aspects of the task.
❓ この文章によると、認知負荷に関連するインストラクショナルデザインの主な目標は何ですか？
A. あらゆる形態の認知的負荷を排除し、学習を努力なしで行えるようにすること。
B. 学習者により深く挑戦させるために、内在的負荷を増加させること。
C. 外在的負荷を減らしつつ、内発的負荷を効果的に管理するために。
D. 複雑な図を作成するには、より多くの精神的労力が必要です。
✅ 正确答案
To reduce extraneous load while managing intrinsic load effectively.
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