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 Sweller's cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the intrinsic load (the complexity of the material itself) and the extraneous load (the way information is presented) exceed the learner's capacity. However, recent studies suggest that a certain level of germane load, which involves the mental processes dedicated to constructing and automating schemas, is beneficial. This has led to a shift from purely reducing load to strategically designing tasks that promote schema acquisition, particularly in complex domains like mathematics and science. Thus, the challenge lies not in minimizing all cognitive effort, but in balancing different types of load to enhance deep understanding.
❓ 本文によると、インストラクショナルデザイナーにとっての主な課題は何ですか？
A. 学習者を圧倒しないように、あらゆる形態の認知的負荷を排除すること。
B. 教材の本質的な複雑性を高め、より深い学習を促進するため。
C. 様々な種類の認知負荷をバランスよく配分し、効果的なスキーマ構築を促進すること。
D. 作業記憶の他の要素を考慮せずに、単に外的負荷を減らすことだけに焦点を当てること。
✅ 正确答案
To balance different types of cognitive load to facilitate effective schema construction.
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