How can cognitive load theory be applied to lesson planning?

1 Simplify your slides

One way to reduce extraneous load is to simplify your slides or other visual aids. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text, graphics, or animation that might distract or overwhelm your students. Use clear fonts, colors, and layouts that are easy to read and follow. Use images, diagrams, or graphs that are relevant and support your main points. Align your slides with your verbal explanations and avoid adding unnecessary or conflicting information.

2 Chunk your content

Another way to reduce extraneous load and manage intrinsic load is to chunk your content into smaller and meaningful units. Chunking is the process of breaking down complex or large amounts of information into smaller and easier to remember pieces. For example, you can chunk your content by using headings, subheadings, bullet points, or numbered lists. You can also chunk your content by using examples, analogies, or stories that illustrate your concepts. Chunking helps your students to organize and categorize information in their working memory and transfer it to their long-term memory.

3 Activate prior knowledge

A third way to reduce extraneous load and enhance germane load is to activate prior knowledge. Prior knowledge is the existing information or schema that your students have in their long-term memory. By activating prior knowledge, you can help your students to connect new information to what they already know and understand. You can activate prior knowledge by using questions, quizzes, discussions, or brainstorming activities that elicit your students' background knowledge, experiences, or interests. Activating prior knowledge helps your students to integrate and apply new information to their existing schema.

5 Provide feedback

A fifth way to reduce extraneous load and enhance germane load is to provide feedback. Feedback is the information that you give to your students about their performance, progress, or understanding. Feedback can be positive, negative, or neutral, and can be given verbally, written, or visually. Feedback can be given by you, by peers, or by self. Feedback helps your students to identify their strengths and weaknesses, to correct their errors, to improve their strategies, and to monitor their learning.

6 Adjust your pace

A sixth way to reduce extraneous load and manage intrinsic load is to adjust your pace. Pace is the speed and timing of your instruction and activities. Pace can be fast, slow, or moderate, and can vary depending on the content, the students, and the context. Adjusting your pace means finding the optimal balance between challenging and supporting your students, between moving forward and reviewing, and between covering and uncovering. Adjusting your pace helps your students to follow and process information, to avoid boredom or frustration, and to achieve your learning objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?