How can you use multimedia to enhance active learning and minimize germane load?
Active learning is a teaching approach that engages learners in meaningful tasks, such as problem-solving, discussion, or inquiry, that require them to construct their own understanding of the content. Active learning can improve learning outcomes, motivation, and retention, but it also imposes a high cognitive load on learners, which is the amount of mental effort required to process information. Cognitive load can be divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Intrinsic load is determined by the complexity and difficulty of the content, extraneous load is caused by irrelevant or confusing information or presentation, and germane load is related to the effort of organizing and integrating the content into existing knowledge. To optimize active learning, you need to reduce extraneous load, manage intrinsic load, and maximize germane load. One way to do that is to use multimedia, which is the combination of text, images, audio, video, or animations, to present the content in a clear, coherent, and engaging way. In this article, you will learn how to use multimedia to enhance active learning and minimize germane load.