The Learning Scientists Podcast Episode 90: Dual Coding-Can There Be Too Much of a Good Thing?
May 22, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of dual coding, where the power of combining words and visuals can supercharge learning! Discover how to strike the perfect balance to avoid cognitive overload. Educators will appreciate the practical strategies shared to optimize teaching using this approach, ensuring students absorb knowledge more effectively. Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Tune in to find out!
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Dual Coding Benefits and Risks
- Dual coding combines words with visuals to enhance learning effectively.
- Too much combined information risks cognitive overload, reducing learning benefits.
Understanding Cognitive Load Types
- Cognitive load during learning includes essential, incidental, and representational demands.
- Overloading any of these can hinder meaningful processing and retention.
Strategies to Reduce Cognitive Load
- Break information into small segments and slow down presentations to ease processing.
- Use narration for words or place visuals and words together to reduce cognitive overload.