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All 10 Flashcards — Cognitive load theory
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Question
What is cognitive load theory?
Answer
Learning depends on the limited capacity of working memory, which can be overloaded.
Question
What is intrinsic load?
Answer
The difficulty of the material itself.
Question
What is extraneous load?
Answer
Wasted load caused by poor presentation — clutter, confusing layout, distractions.
Question
What is germane load?
Answer
The useful effort of building understanding and connecting ideas into long-term memory.
Question
Why does overload block learning?
Answer
Working memory can only hold a few items; too much and it can't be processed.
Question
How do you improve learning with the theory?
Answer
Cut extraneous load, keep intrinsic load manageable, and support germane load.
Question
Can you increase working-memory capacity?
Answer
No — you can only manage load; capacity itself is fixed.
Question
One strength of the theory?
Answer
It directly improves teaching, instructions and design, backed by memory research.
Question
One limitation of the theory?
Answer
The three load types are hard to measure separately and optimal load varies by person.
Question
Which concept does this link to?
Answer
Measurement — the theory rests on the measurable limits of working memory.
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Topic 2.2 hub
Cognitive approach
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