The type of course materials you use have a big impact on student engagement – not all materials are created equal. While some materials may suit your students perfectly, motivating them and leaving them feeling prepared, others may leave them feeling bogged down, unsure of their educational priorities, and overwhelmed by information. This is called cognitive load, and it’s a core factor in keeping your students engaged.
Defining Cognitive Load
Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required to process and retain new information in one's working memory. It's an essential factor in how we learn and understand new concepts. Imagine your brain as a computer processor with a limited capacity to handle data at any given time. If you overload your processor with too much information, it slows down, and you can't process everything effectively.
The concept of cognitive load is crucial in educational settings because it directly impacts how well students can learn and retain new material. When the cognitive load is too high, students can become overwhelmed, leading to decreased focus and low student engagement.
It’s not just students who are affected by cognitive load. Teachers must also contend with cognitive load when it comes to internalizing and presenting educational content, which in turn impacts their students. Understanding cognitive load and how to manage it for both teachers and students can help improve educational outcomes. For example, allied health educators must teach with career-readiness in mind to ensure learners are not only ready to pass their certification exam, but also ready to hit the ground running when they begin their careers. If students and teachers are burdened with the cognitive load of handling information beyond that scope, it may negatively impact educational outcomes.
The Three Types of Cognitive Load
There are three main types of cognitive load that influence how we learn – intrinsic cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load, and germane cognitive load.
Intrinsic Cognitive Load: This type of load is related to the inherent difficulty of the material being learned. Some subjects are naturally more complex and require more mental effort to understand. For example, learning to solve algebraic equations is intrinsically more challenging than basic arithmetic.
Extraneous Cognitive Load: This load comes from how the information is presented to learners. Poorly designed instructional materials, such as overly complicated textbooks or unclear explanations, can increase extraneous cognitive load. This type of load is not inherent to the material itself but rather a result of how it is taught.
Germane Cognitive Load: This type of load is related to the mental effort put into understanding and processing the material. It's the beneficial kind of cognitive load that helps in forming a deeper understanding of the subject. For instance, working through practice problems or engaging in discussions can enhance germane cognitive load, leading to better comprehension.
Effects of Cognitive Load on Student Engagement
Cognitive load has a significant impact on student engagement. When the cognitive load is too high, students can feel overwhelmed and lose interest in the subject matter. Research has shown that the average attention span of students has decreased dramatically over the last 20 years, dropping from about 2.5 minutes to a mere 47 seconds.
Students experiencing high cognitive load may struggle to focus on the essential aspects of the lesson. They might find it difficult to determine what is important and what is not, leading to confusion and frustration. This can result in a lack of motivation and decreased participation in class activities.
An Australian study on high school students’ motivation found that increased cognitive load has a hefty negative impact, while decreased cognitive load helps students to feel more motivated.
Per the study, “An experimental study of undergraduate science students (Feldon et al., 2018) concluded that when students experienced extraneous cognitive load, it undermined self-efficacy beliefs over a semester of study, independent of actual performance. Conversely, experimentally reducing extraneous load was found to positively affect motivation (Nebel et al., 2017; Skulmowski et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2022).”
On the other hand, when cognitive load is managed effectively, students are more likely to stay engaged and actively participate in their learning. They can focus on the critical elements of the lesson, leading to better understanding and retention of the material.
The Impact of Traditional Textbooks on Cognitive Load
Out of the three types of cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load is one we have extensive control over. We can adjust how we present the information we expect teachers and students to use, and not all mediums are created equal.
Traditional textbooks have been an educational mainstay, but these same textbooks can often increase cognitive load, making it harder for students to stay engaged. It’s easy for us to fall into the habit of utilizing textbooks, sometimes exclusively. This is in part because it’s how current practitioners and educators were taught themselves, and so it’s what we know and feel familiar with. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best tools for driving results.
Textbooks can feel lengthy and filled with information that may not be directly relevant to the learners' needs. A typical textbook can have over 1,200 pages, many of which students and teachers alike might consider "fluff" that doesn't contribute to career readiness or test preparation.
Additionally, textbooks often try to cover a wide range of topics, giving each chapter equal weight. They are typically intended to cover the full breadth of an allied health career, including all the potential specializations and responsibilities that may encompass that career. Unfortunately, that often comes at the expense of equipping learners with the job-ready skills they’ll need on day one. This can make it challenging for both students and teachers to identify the most critical concepts. Without clear guidance, students can feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they need to absorb. They may even end up focusing on information that’s not as relevant or important to their area of focus, or worse, reconsidering the profession as a whole.
Textbooks may not always align with the cognitive structures of the human mind. Poorly designed instructional materials can load unnecessary information onto the learner's working memory, increasing extraneous cognitive load and making it harder to learn effectively. Coupling poor or limited design with the already overwhelming volume and coverage of textbooks is a recipe for student disengagement.
Challenges and Solutions for Learners
Cognitive load can pose several different challenges to learners, affecting how they internalize and retain information.
Students feeling the weight of cognitive load may struggle to stay focused in class or during study time, may not understand what information is truly important in their lessons and course materials, and ultimately may wind up feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, there are ways for students to overcome cognitive load, or avoid it entirely.
These challenges can lead to decreased motivation and engagement, making it harder for students to succeed in their studies. Thankfully there are also strategies for learners to help them stay engaged.
Manage Study Time: Break study sessions into shorter, focused periods. Avoiding information overload or study burnout is paramount. This helps maintain attention and reduces cognitive load. Utilizing test plans that offer clear roadmaps and structure for study time is a helpful solution.
Use Multiple Resources: Don't rely solely on textbooks. Use a variety of resources like videos, interactive modules, and practice problems to reinforce learning. Variety helps improve retention through active learning.
Seek Clarification: Don't hesitate to ask questions if something isn't clear. Understanding the material fully reduces the cognitive load and makes learning more efficient.
Challenges and Solutions for Educators
Educators also face significant challenges related to cognitive load. The difficulties they face can impact their performance in the classroom, which in turn impacts their students. These challenges include clarity on what to teach and when, the perceived need to cover every chapter in a textbook, and ensuring student retention.
These challenges can make it difficult for educators to create an effective and engaging learning environment. When looking at how you can help reduce cognitive load as an educator, consider the following.
Prioritize Relevant Content: Focus on the most important topics that align with industry expectations and certification exams. For example, if you are teaching and training future patient care technicians, you can align the amount of time spent on areas like patient care and infection control with the degree to which the exam focuses on those domains by looking at their test plan. Ensure that what students are being taught is directly applicable to their future roles – this helps students see the relevance of what they're learning.
Use Right-Sized Content: Break down complex information into smaller, more manageable chunks. Try not to overwhelm your students with a deluge of content and knowledge. This makes it easier for students to process and understand what they’re learning.
Incorporate Active Learning: Use embedded activities with rationales to encourage active learning and critical thinking. Ensuring students are actively interacting with or simulating the concepts they’re learning about, rather than simply reading about them, helps students retain information better, and engage with the material more deeply. You may also consider using a “flipped classroom” method, having students read case studies or relevant information before class, and utilizing the classroom to discuss, clarify, and amplify.
Improving Student Engagement Through Multiple Mediums
Effective management of cognitive load can lead to improved student engagement and better educational outcomes. By prioritizing a variety of content types, breaking down complex information, and incorporating active learning strategies, educators can create a more engaging and effective learning environment. Embracing learning strategies that involve interactive mediums is key – and unfortunately, textbooks don’t always provide those opportunities.
Students, on the other hand, can benefit from managing their study time, using multiple resources, and seeking clarification when needed. These practices can help reduce cognitive load, making it easier for students to focus on the essential aspects of their learning.
In conclusion, understanding and managing cognitive load is crucial for both educators and learners. By utilizing tools beyond textbooks to reduce cognitive load, we can enhance student engagement, improve retention, and ultimately lead to better educational outcomes.
Learn more about how NHA’s course materials are built to combat cognitive load – contact us today, and we’ll help keep your students engaged!
