The amount of working memory we use at any given moment is called the cognitive load.
Certain types of cognitive loads can’t be altered, others are detrimental, and yet others are actually productive.
finding the delicate balance between all the different types of cognitive loads
navigate your way through complex decision-making, it’s important to take into account and manage your cognitive load—or, more accurately, your cognitive loads.
the three types of cognitive loads:
Intrinsic cognitive load. This is the inherent level of difficulty associated with a specific task. There is no way to alter the intrinsic cognitive load of a task. For instance, it will be easier to solve a simple calculation such as 3 + 3 compared to solving a differential equation.
Extraneous cognitive load. This is the way the information or task is presented, and can be altered through instructional design. For instance, describing a concept visually or verbally will have an impact on how easy it is to understand.
Germane cognitive load. This is the result of how the brain constructively handles information,
Specifically, in order to learn better, the way we study should strive to reduce our extraneous cognitive load (which is unnecessarily making it harder to think) and increase our germane cognitive load (which is helping us think better, even if it feels like more work).
transfer the mental effort from extraneous to germane cognitive load instead.
Chunking. Take individual pieces of information and group them into larger units. This method has been shown to improve the amount of information you can remember,
Thinking in maps. From mind maps to process maps and concept maps, thinking in maps is a great way to reduce the extraneous cognitive load of a task and increase its germane cognitive load by helping you form constructive associatiations.
A Cognitive Load Approach to Collaborative Learning: United Brains for Complex Tasks. Collaborative learning has been found to help improve learning performance, especially with high cognitive load tasks.
Note: Argumentation for social in pathways
Strategies include brainstorming solutions or creating a learning plan as a group.
