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 psychology, cognitive load theory suggests that learning is most effective when instructional materials are designed to minimize extraneous cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for the intrinsic processing necessary to understand complex material. However, recent research has challenged the assumption that reducing cognitive load always enhances learning. For instance, a study by Kalyuga et al. found that for learners with high prior knowledge, presenting information in a simplified manner can actually impede performance, a phenomenon known as the 'expertise reversal effect.' This indicates that the optimal level of instructional guidance depends on the learner's level of expertise, suggesting a more nuanced approach to instructional design.