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 instructional design should minimize unnecessary cognitive load to facilitate learning. This is particularly relevant in multimedia learning environments, where learners must integrate information from multiple sources, such as text and diagrams. According to Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning, learners have separate channels for processing visual and auditory information, and each channel has limited capacity. When information is presented in a way that overloads these channels, learning is hindered. However, by using techniques like signaling (highlighting key points) or weeding (removing extraneous content), educators can reduce extraneous load and promote deeper understanding. Thus, the design of educational materials should consider not only the content but also the cognitive processes involved in learning.