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 strive 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 (manner of presentation) exceed the learner's available working memory capacity. However, recent studies suggest that a certain level of germane load, which involves the construction and automation of schemas, is beneficial for deep understanding. Therefore, effective teaching materials should minimize extraneous load while encouraging germane load, rather than simply reducing overall difficulty.
❓ 이 지문은 효과적인 교수 설계에 대해 무엇을 시사하는가?
A. 모든 인지 부담을 제거하여 학습자에게 과부하가 걸리지 않도록 해야 한다.
B. 그것은 오로지 주제의 복잡성을 줄이는 데에만 초점을 맞춰야 한다.
C. 불필요한 부담을 줄이면서도 스키마 구축 활동을 촉진하는 균형을 이루어야 한다.
D. 고급 학생들에게 도전을 주기 위해 내재적 부하를 증가시키는 것을 우선시해야 한다.
✅ 正确答案
It should balance reducing unnecessary load while promoting schema-building activities.
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