May 262011

Cognitive Load: What is Cognitive Load?

Cognitive Load: By Connie Malamed, the eLearning Coach

As far as I can tell, working memory (WM), the part of our brain that consciously processes information, dominates everything we do in terms of learning. Working memory can only hold 4-5 bits of information at one time and information in working memory lasts only around ten seconds. The fact that our working memories have a small capacity and a short duration is worthy of headline news. It’s what we’re up against as humans and as learning experience designers.

Interactions Between WM and LTM

Unlike working memory, long-term memory appears to have an unlimited capacity. Information in long-term memory (LTM) is stored in schemas, which are mental structures we use to organize and structure knowledge. Schemas incorporate multiple elements of information into a single element with a specific function. The interaction goes both ways. We construct new schemas in working memory so they can be integrated into existing knowledge in long-term memory. And existing knowledge in LTM is brought into working memory to help us understand the world. Otherwise, everything would be new all the time!

cognitive load




cognitive load, McDonald Sales and Marketing, LLC

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