The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

Cognitive Load Theory Reframed

Oct 15, 2024
Oliver Caviglioli, a visual graphic artist and educational trainer, joins Drew Perkins to discuss a fresh perspective on Cognitive Load Theory. They delve into the importance of redefining traditional educational beliefs to better support learning. The conversation emphasizes how visuals and effective note-taking can enhance memory and comprehension. Caviglioli also explores the evolution of communication from spoken word to written knowledge, advocating for a balanced approach in education that marries structured instruction with inquiry-based learning.
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INSIGHT

Cognitive Load and Working Memory

  • Cognitive load theory highlights our limited working memory capacity for new information, essentially our conscious thinking space.
  • Teachers have intuitively understood this as avoiding overwhelming students with too much new information at once.
INSIGHT

Writing Transformed Human Cognition

  • Writing developed human intelligence by enabling knowledge to be stored externally and accessed repeatedly.
  • Externalizing thoughts onto paper drastically expands our effective working memory, allowing complex ideas to build up over time.
ADVICE

Keep Teaching Materials Simple

  • Use simple, clear visuals and writing when teaching; avoid decorative fonts, colors, and centered text to reduce confusion.
  • Restrain efforts to make materials 'pretty'; simplicity helps reduce cognitive overload for learners.
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