The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational psychology, cognitive load theory suggests that learning is most effective when instructional materials are designed to minimize extraneous load, allowing learners to focus on intrinsic load and germane load. Intrinsic load is the inherent difficulty of the material itself, while germane load involves the processes of schema construction and automation. Research has shown that poorly designed multimedia presentations, which split attention between text and graphics, can increase extraneous load, thereby hindering comprehension. Conversely, integrating related information spatially and temporally can reduce unnecessary cognitive burden, facilitating deeper learning. This has significant implications for curriculum design, especially in STEM fields where complex problem-solving is required.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el beneficio principal de reducir la carga cognitiva extraña en el diseño instruccional?
A. A. Permite a los estudiantes procesar más información simultáneamente.
B. B. Permite que los estudiantes se concentren en la dificultad inherente y en los aspectos de construcción de esquemas del material.
C. C. Elimina la necesidad de la memoria de trabajo en el aprendizaje.
D. D. Aumenta la velocidad de entrega de información a los estudiantes.
✅ 正确答案
B. It enables learners to concentrate on the inherent difficulty and schema-building aspects of the material.
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