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 design often aims to manage this load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic complexity of the material, combined with the way it is presented, exceeds the learner's cognitive capacity. Extraneous cognitive load, which is caused by poor instructional design, can be reduced by simplifying the presentation, while germane load, which is dedicated to processing and understanding the material, should be encouraged. However, recent studies suggest that a moderate level of challenge, rather than minimal load, may enhance long-term retention, as it promotes deeper processing and schema construction. This has led to a debate about whether instructional methods should always minimize cognitive load or strategically introduce difficulty to foster robust learning.