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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 인지 부하와 관련한 교수 설계의 주요 변화는 무엇인가?
A. A. 인지 부하를 완전히 제거하여 학습자에게 과부하가 걸리지 않도록 한다
B. B. 내용의 복잡성과 관계없이 내재적 부하 줄이기
C. C. 부하를 전략적으로 균형 있게 조정하여 유익한 난이도를 포함시키기
D. D. 학습자의 도전을 위해 외부 부하 증가
✅ 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