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. However, recent studies suggest that a moderate level of germane load, which involves the mental resources dedicated to processing and understanding the material, can enhance deep learning. This has led to a shift from purely reducing cognitive load to strategically balancing it, acknowledging that some difficulty is beneficial for developing robust knowledge structures.
❓ 文章によると、認知負荷に関するインストラクショナルデザインの主な変化は何か。
A. A. 学習者に過度な負担をかけないよう、すべての認知的負荷を排除すること
B. B. 内容の複雑さに関係なく、内因性負荷を軽減する
C. C. 有益な困難さを含めるように負荷を戦略的にバランスさせること
D. D. 学習者に挑戦を与えるために、外的負荷を増加させる
✅ 正确答案
C. Strategically balancing load to include beneficial difficulty
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