The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast 244: Three Ways You May Be Cognitively Overloading Your Students
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Feb 17, 2025 Blake Harvard, an AP psychology teacher and author of "Do I Have Your Attention?", dives into the challenges of cognitive overload in education. He outlines three common teaching practices that can confuse students without teachers even realizing it. Blake shares practical strategies to simplify instruction and enhance clarity by understanding cognitive processes. He also discusses the impact of information overload and offers tips for presenting material cohesively. This conversation is a must-listen for educators seeking to optimize learning!
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Intrinsic vs. Extraneous Load
- Intrinsic load refers to the inherent complexity of the material being learned.
- Extraneous load describes the cognitive effort imposed by the way information is presented.
Seductive Details Effect
- Avoid overwhelming students with excessive or irrelevant details in lessons.
- Ensure that any added details directly relate to the core concepts being taught.
Split Attention Effect
- Present information in a unified, cohesive manner.
- Avoid splitting students' attention across different times or locations within a lesson.