The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, it is often divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is inherent to the complexity of the material itself, while extraneous load is generated by the way information is presented to the learner. Germane load, on the other hand, is the effort devoted to processing and understanding the material, which can lead to schema construction. Research suggests that effective instructional design should aim to reduce extraneous load, thereby freeing cognitive resources for germane processing. However, overly simplifying material may inadvertently decrease germane load, as learners may not engage deeply enough to build robust mental models. Thus, a balance between instructional support and learner challenge is crucial for optimal learning outcomes.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 교수 설계에서 외재적 부하를 줄이는 주요 목표는 무엇인가?
A. 학습 자료의 내재적 복잡성을 증가시키기 위해
B. 의미 있는 처리와 스키마 구축을 위해 더 많은 정신적 용량을 확보하기 위해
C. 학습 중 모든 유형의 인지 부하를 제거하기 위해
D. 학습자들이 깊이 생각할 필요가 없도록 자료를 더 쉽게 만들기 위해
✅ 正确答案
To allow more mental capacity for meaningful processing and schema building
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