Note: This paper was originally developed and submitted as part of the Master in Education coursework at UPOU.
As an educator teaching young children, this concept tremendously helps me a lot in ensuring that students are not only learning but also enjoying their learning journey, as children have short attention spans. With this knowledge in mind, I am confident that I can tailor lesson plans depending on my students’ learning styles and needs.
Based on Bloom’s taxonomy, the learning objectives of Cognitive Load Theory as a learning resource are as follows:
Remembering and Understanding
- To define cognitive load theory
Applying
- To apply the concepts of cognitive load theory to pedagogy
Creating
- To develop effective teaching approaches
Practical Psychology is a YouTube channel that shares various topics on psychology and personal development. It’s a short video tutorial focusing on introducing the basics of Cognitive Load Theory to learners, educators, and instructional designers. The channel’s passion to deliver authentic, informative learning resources makes it a reliable source of information for both teachers and students. The video tutorial was published on March 4, 2021, and has garnered over 63,000 views over the past four years.
The learning resource Cognitive Load Theory is commonly used for self-directed learning and personal growth. As teachers, we need to understand how students learn and process information so we can adapt our lessons to meet their learning needs. From experience, learning becomes more enjoyable when students grasp a topic without overcomplicating explanations. This is why I believe that cognitive load theory is a vital part of effective teaching.
Analysis Part 1
Learning Resource Analysis Focuses on Cognitivist Theory
The learning resource, Cognitive Load Theory video tutorial, is cognitivist in design. Firstly, it focuses on working memory limitations. It is just a less-than-10-minute video. The video’s length will help new learners understand the material. Additionally, the author broke down complex concepts into manageable parts. At first, he defines what cognitive load theory is and why we need to learn about it, and then he talks about its concepts and gives us examples for us to connect our previous knowledge to the new ones being presented. Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental activity imposed on working memory at an instance in time (Cooper, 1998). Reducing the cognitive load means focusing on a single task at a time. The more we focus on multiple things at a time, the more we forget essential information, which makes us less productive.
Analysis Part 2
Cognitive Load Theory Video Tutorial : Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- The video engages both the visual and auditory registers. This concept is called the dual-coding approach. According to Structural Learning, this kind of approach in teaching and learning enhances memory retention, reduces cognitive load, and supports all types of learners. Moreover, the integration of visual and verbal elements ensures that students process information more deeply, efficiently, and effectively, leading to stronger comprehension and long-term retention (2023).
- Clear explanations of the three types of cognitive load
The author clearly explains the three types of cognitive load along with some examples. The explanations are brief and on point, avoiding extraneous cognitive load on learners.
- The video is short and focused. Without unnecessary information, it is easier for first-time viewers or learners to understand what the video is all about.
Weaknesses
- The viewers only watch and listen without any simple interaction with the narrator/author. This is what we call passive learning. It is “a method of learning or instruction where students receive information from the instructor and internalize it” (ASU Prep Digital, 2021). Passive learning happens when students are mere recipients of information. While this type of learning facilitates the acquisition of information through visual and auditory processing, it may hinder the development of students’ critical thinking skills.
- There is a limited depth of understanding of the content itself. Although Cognitive Load Theory Video Tutorial is effective in bringing up new information, as a viewer, I expect more examples to fully understand the concepts mentioned in the video.
Cognitivist or Behaviorist in Approach
The learning resource Cognitive Load Theory is constructivist in its approach.
The video explains clearly the concepts about cognitive load theory and how educators or instructional designers can tailor their lessons for students to retain newly acquired information. By doing so, we, as viewers, can connect our previous experiences, let’s say we are already teachers, to connect what we are doing in class to what we have learned watching this video. Anderson and Dron (2011) noted that cognitive models were based on a growing understanding of the functions and operations of the brain and especially of the ways in which computer models were used to describe and test learning and thinking (p. 82). With this, we can have a better understanding of how our brains work to develop effective teaching strategies.
This new information is necessary for us to help our students understand better and achieve success in learning. On the other hand, the video tutorial is not behaviorist in approach since there are no drill exercises or even feedback given by the author/narrator.
References
Anderson, T., Dron, J., & Athabasca University. (2011). Three generations of Distance Education Pedagogy. In International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning (Vols. 12–3).
ASU Prep Digital. (2021, April 15). Passive Learning vs Active Learning – ASU Prep Digital.
https://www.asuprepdigital.org/student_blog/passive-learning-vs-active-learning/.
Cooper, G. (1998). Research into cognitive load theory and instructional design at YNSW [Electronic Version]: http://paepsych.jku.at4711/LEHRRTEXTE/Cooper 98.html.
Structural Learning. (2023, January 29). Dual Coding: A Teacher’s guide.
https://www.structural-learning.com/post/dual-coding-a-teachers-guide.