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.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 교수 설계자들의 주요 과제는 무엇인가?
A. 모든 형태의 인지 부하를 제거하여 학습자에게 과부하가 걸리지 않도록 한다.
B. 재료의 내재적 복잡성을 증가시켜 더 깊은 학습을 촉진한다.
C. 다양한 유형의 인지 부하를 균형 있게 조절하여 효과적인 스키마 구축을 촉진한다.
D. 다른 요소를 고려하지 않고 외부 부하를 줄이는 것에만 초점을 맞추는 것.
✅ 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