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 cognitive load theory, learning is hampered when the total load exceeds the learner's working memory capacity. This can occur when the material is inherently complex (intrinsic load) or when the presentation is poorly designed, causing unnecessary mental activity (extraneous load). Effective instruction reduces extraneous load while preserving the essential complexity needed for learning. Recent research suggests that adapting instructional methods to individual differences in working memory capacity can further enhance learning outcomes, as learners with lower capacity may benefit from more scaffolded approaches.